Indigenous tribal leaders in Brazil have celebrated the return of a sacred robe, which has been on display in a Danish museum for more than 300 years.
The 1,8 meter long cloak, made of 4.000 red ibis feathers, was officially unveiled at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, one of the largest cities in the Latin American country.
The event was also attended by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.
- "Every Greek is insulted": What they say in Athens about the ancient sculptures that Britain won't give them back
- The Netherlands is returning to Asia stolen treasures from the colonial era
- Stolen African treasure, escape from the Nazis and paying back the debt to history
The cloak was taken from the Tupinamba people during the Portuguese colonial period and since 1689 has been on display in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
Its return emphasizes how important the inheritance of ancestors is in order to maintain their traditions.
A group of 200 people from Tupinamba camped outside the building with drums and pipes filled with medicinal herbs, waiting to see the precious robe, to reconnect with their ancestors.
Jakuj Tupinamba from the municipality of Olivenka in the east of the country traveled 1.200 kilometers by bus to see this precious article of clothing.
"I felt sadness and joy. Something between being born and dying," he told the news agency France Press.
Susu Arana Morubidžada Tupinamba, one of the chiefs of the natives, said that "when the Europeans stole their cloaks, their ancestors were left without a compass".
A few holy robes have survived hundreds of years and are still on display in museums across Europe.
They are believed to originate from the 16th century.
Tupinamba leaders say it's not just about returning artifacts to their original homes, but about recognizing indigenous people, their land and their rights.
The Brazilian president has previously pledged to recognize indigenous land reserves, but the government has not yet officially demarcated the territory of the Tupinambas.
"I am against putting a time limit on the claim of indigenous land," Lula said during the ceremony.
"I vetoed this attack against indigenous communities, but the National Congress, invoking the law that guarantees it the upper hand in decision-making, overrode my veto and the hearing continues before the Federal Supreme Court.
"I have not changed my position: I am in favor of respecting the constitutionally established rights of indigenous peoples, namely that they have the right to their own territory and culture," he said.
He added that this is why he opposes the absurd idea of time-limiting land claims.
The Tupinambasi community claims that the mineral-rich territory is being destroyed by large agricultural and mining companies.
BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
