INSTITUTO
MARACÁ
THE INSTITUTE
Instituto Maracá is a civil society organization founded December 2017 whose primary purpose is to protect and publicize the historical, environmental and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples.
Inspired by the maracás crafted by indigenous peoples in Brazil, we aim to find the best ways to relay the messages and knowledge of these peoples to non-indigenous societies.
The maracá, an indigenous rattle consisting of a seed-filled gourd, is a sacred object used by most Amerindian peoples to communicate with the spiritual world during different rituals and celebrations.
We believe indigenous art, culture and other forms of expression play a fundamental role in bridging the gap between universes that are still too far apart. That is why the Institute’s projects and activities straddle multiple fields, including but not limited to culture, education, health care and the environment.
Indigenous peoples hold precious pools of knowledge and worldviews that can hint at solutions to key issues facing contemporary Western societies, especially the current environmental challenges.
MISSION
"To help ensure indigenous peoples get more respect and recognition, through efforts to protect, publicize and highlight indigenous culture, as well as through the creation of spaces for intercultural dialogue, in tandem with indigenous individuals and relying on innovative forms of communication.
We believe that in doing so, Instituto Maracá can help protect the rights and interests of indigenous peoples as well as enhance their autonomy.”
PRINCIPLES
To come up with effective, creative ways for indigenous people to provide input towards the conception and development of the Institute’s activities. To work in collaboration with the different indigenous communities and representatives.
To recognize, dialogue with and champion indigenous knowledges and epistemologies, at all times striving to encourage, comprehend and closely adhere to the role and work of different masters, wisemen, thinkers and holders of traditional knowledge.
To promote intercultural dialogue between indigenous people of different ethnicities, and between indigenous and non-indigenous people, so as to generate and broaden knowledge regarding indigenous peoples and their cultures, as well as spark reflection on the concept of cultural identity and Brazilian history.
To converse with academic knowledge. We find it necessary to engage in dialogue with academic institutions as well as with historians, museologists, archaeologists, ethnomusicologists, fine artists, curators and other indigenous and non-indigenous researchers.
To value diversity of forms of expression. The Institute believes that the arts and other forms of expression can help the public to familiarize and communicate with the indigenous issue, thereby contributing to the relay of information on the reality of indigenous cultures.
To promote innovative experiences. The Institute finds it necessary to keep apace with the latest developments in museology and exhibits, so as to encourage innovative experiences that can help advance debate in these fields.
To work in partnership with other indigenous-related projects and initiatives. We believe that partnerships and dialogue with like-minded institutions, researchers in various fields and curators should enrich and broaden the Institute’s actions.