Rikbaktsa Feather Headdress (Myhara)

Brazil

Mid-20th century

Feathers, cotton, fiber, human hair

An annual cycle of ceremonies for hunting, fishing, food gathering, and agriculture still play a central role in the social life of the Rikbaksta. Traditional dress such as the Feather Headdress, along with feather ornaments, music, and chants, accompany these celebrations. Ritual ceremonies and performances of mythical stories enable the Rikbaksta to express their ethnic identity and maintain tribal cohesion.