Headdress

Item number 3077/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

Feather headdress. Black, white and small yellow and white feathers sewn onto a plain yellow-brown woven band of plant fibre (palm?). Tied at the ends with twisted thin cords.

Narrative

Purchased by donor in 1989 at a FUNAI store in Belem, Brazil.

Cultural Context

When the various Iny (formerly known as Karaja) groups were first contacted by Europeans in the 18th century their total population was estimated to be around 9,000. Persecution and slavery led to a precipitous decline, and by the early 20th century less than 600 individuals were left, facing possible extinction. As part of the “developmental” policies of successive Brazilian governments, their lands were occupied by cattle grazers and industrial farmers, and their rivers exploited for commercial fishing. But against the odds the Iny have prospered, and by 2014 their population had rebounded to about 4,000 people.