Ethnographic Collections, Indigenous Peoples, and Virtual Repatriation: New Questions, Old Debates

Within the debates on the repatriation of material heritage, photography as a tool has served as a marker of memory for communities in various parts of the world. This study examines innovative approaches to the preservation of Indigenous cultural identity and memory, focusing on virtual repatriation processes and collaboration between museums and Indigenous communities in Brazil. The research analyzes various virtual repatriation projects of ethnographic objects, both in the Carlos Estevão de Oliveira Ethnographic Collection (CECEO) at the Museum of the State of Pernambuco and the experiences of NAGPRA in the United States. Collaborative experiences with peoples such as the Fulni-ô, Ramkokamekrá-Canela, Pankararu, and communities of the Upper Rio Negro are explored, highlighting the active participation of Indigenous people in the curation and narratives of museum exhibitions. The findings underscore the transformative potential of digital technologies in facilitating virtual repatriation and access for Indigenous peoples to their culturally dispersed heritage globally. This practice offers alternative representations for thinking about and presenting cultural heritage.