Cultural mediation in heritage education: ethnographic collections in possible dialogues between universities, museums and the Katxuyana Amerindians

For years the ethnographic collections of Katxuyana are saved in Brazilian and European museums, mostly preserved in technical reserves. This people was almost wiped out and in 1968 abandoned their territory on the banks of the Cachorro river (Lower Amazon, Brazil). Living with other amerindians for decades, some Katxuyana families returned to their land and in 2003 reopened an ancient village. Instigated by the Katxuyana, we have reflected about the contemporary meanings of these collections under the heritage education. This article examines cultural mediation processes developed by teachers and students of the Universidade Federal Fluminense and Ahrus Universitet. This experience, ongoing, awakens a dialogue/multidisciplinary meeting between different subjects and institutions and reveals connections of human experience in the world of material culture.