The Sacred Cave of Kamukuwaká installed in Upper Xingu
Factum Foundation is delighted to announce the installation and inauguration of the Sacred Cave of Kamukuwaká replica at the new Cultural and Territorial Monitoring Center in Ulupuwene village, Upper Xingu. This achievement marks the culmination of a six-year project, following the vandalisation of the original site in 2018. The replica not only restores Indigenous Brazilian culture but also preserves the ancestral knowledge of 16 Xingu peoples. In collaboration with People’s Palace Projects, the initiative involved recording the original cave, reconstructing its petroglyphs with the Wauja people, and transporting the replica from Madrid to Xingu, thanks to Iron Mountain’s Living Legacy program and Crozier Fine Arts.
Celebrated with two days of traditional rituals on October 2nd and 3rd, the Wauja people and leaders from across the Xingu Indigenous Territory welcomed the full-size replica of their sacred site. Chief Akari Wuará emphasised its importance, stating, “The spirit of the ancestors now inhabits this replica.”
Piratá Waurá, a teacher and filmmaker, added, “For us in Xingu, Kamukuwaká is the origin of all cultural knowledge. It taught us how to relate to the world, respect each other, and care for the environment.”