Between Images, Objects, and Memories: Indigenous Dialogues with ethnographic collections in Europe

This article describes a collaborative project involving Amazonian indigenous peoples (Tacana, Tsimane’, Mosetén, and Waiwai) and ethnographic collections held in European museums. Through the creation of catalogues and interaction cards, indigenous participants reconnected with objects produced by their ancestors, which today remain outside their territories, and they selected which objects would be reviewed in person at the museums. This study shows that, although images can serve as memory triggers, physical contact with objects is irreplaceable for reactivating knowledge and practices. The results highlight the agency of objects as active subjects in the production of memory, the importance of collaborative methodologies, and the need to strengthen the role of curators specializing in anthropology. Overall, the study demonstrates that museums can be spaces for intercultural dialogue, historical reconciliation, and cultural revitalization.