What does this research mean for the field?

For Indigenous communities, the process of restitution extends far beyond the mere return of material objects and encompasses broader dimensions of repair and cross-cultural exchange. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This report addresses the claims of Indigenous communities regarding the need for broader restitution methods.

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June 5, 2026Open Access

Necessity to Repair

Key Points

This report addresses the claims of Indigenous communities regarding the need for broader restitution methods.
Conference held in Lüneburg with representatives from Baniwa, Tupinambá, Kággaba, and Mapuche communities.
Focused on sharing experiences and knowledge on restitutional methods.
Explored the concept of restitution beyond mere material objects.
Restitution methods discussed include cultural understanding and equal exchange.
Participants emphasized the impact of violence on Indigenous communities and the need for repair.
The report suggests a shift in perspective on what restitution entails, highlighting deeper cultural connections.

Abstract

This conference report focuses on the contributions and claims brought forward by the representatives of four Indigenous communities from South America, namely the Baniwa (Brazil), Tupinambá (Brazil), Kággaba (Colombia) and Mapuche (Chile), who all came together in Lüneburg in February 2025. Whereas the conference was a space for sharing experiences and claims, for creating crosscultural knowledge on restitutional methods and equal exchange, it quickly became clear that restitution goes far beyond restituting material objects. Key Words: restitution, violence, Indigenous knowledge, museum, repair

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