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French Guiana: Descendants of Amerindians want to recover remains belonging to the Musée de l’Homme
French Guiana: Descendants of Amerindians want to recover remains belonging to the Musée de l’Homme
(france 2)
This is a dark page in our history: at the end of the 19th century, in Paris, Amerindians from Guyana were exhibited in human zoos. Their remains, property of the French state, were preserved at the Musée de l’Homme. The descendants intend to recover them.
Native Americans left French Guiana at the end of the 19th century for Paris, in the hope of a better life. They were exhibited in human zoos. Of the 33 people who made the journey, eight would not return. Their remains have been preserved in cardboard boxes for 132 years at the Musée de l’Homme. On September 17, exceptionally, their families and those who defend their memory were able to approach them. But that is not enough. Their descendants want to recover these human remains in order to bury them with dignity in French Guiana. Corinne Toka-Devilliers, president of the Moliko Alet+Po association, has made this her fight. The remains have been carefully preserved in cardboard boxes for scientific research. The Musée de l’Homme would be in favor of their restitution.
Problem: there is indeed a law, voted in 2023, but it only concerns requests from foreign countries. Today, in the gardens of the Quai Branly Museum, a final tribute was paid to these forgotten people of history, a shamanic blessing while waiting for their return. A law has been announced for the end of the year. The descendants hope to finally turn this painful page.