Echoes: Biocultural Experiences at the Museu do Homem do Nordeste
Heritage Education; Biocultural Memory; Childhood
The contemporary society is experiencing a moment of recognition and appreciation of diverse cultural expressions belonging to the various social groups that constitute it, respecting and integrating the identities and singularities these groups present. Preserving these movements and passing on such ancestral knowledge to children is, above all, a necessity in the current context. Understanding, valuing, and preserving the memories and cultures of peoples who have been subordinated and violated by colonization, as well as reducing the gap between human interactions and nature, a divide created and reinforced by colonization up to the present day, are key aspects of discussions on Biocultural Memory. Bringing these memories into museum spaces through a transdisciplinary approach in Heritage Education practices, considering that for children, educational activities must be linked to playfulness and the dynamic nature of childhood, creates a necessary web of information and access. This contributes to the formation of plural, emancipatory, and inclusive spaces for any child who wishes to be part of them, bridging narratives that have long been invisibilized or told from the colonizer’s perspective. This study aims to understand whether and how educational practices at the Museu do Homem do Nordeste (Recife-PE) can foster the development of identity and a sense of belonging to the museum/cultural space in children, considering biocultural memory as a heritage to be incorporated into the exhibition of this cultural institution.