PALEO FESTIVAL 2008 - Surui craft industry

Genuine craftsmanship

The Surui produce arts and crafts for their rituals with ancestral traditions. Necklaces, bandanas and rings are all made from seeds found in the forest. As well as the strings either made of wild cotton or a palm tree fibre. Once these ornaments have been used for the intended ceremony, the Surui use them to show social status or can then sell them, because they will produce new ones for new ceremonies. The pieces presented here have not been manufactured for sale, but have already been used for rituals.

A remarkable quality and finesse in all the proposed ornaments. Here Chief Almir's wife, Adlanes is helped by Philippe Neuhaus, owner of the Geneva shop "L'Enfer Vert".

Visitors could appreciate the craftmanship of the Surui ...

... buying nearly all the stocks they had brought with them.

Back home, each family entrusted their jewellery collection to members of the tribe coming to Switzerland.

The whole benefits from the sales go directly to their families. As special guests of the Paleo Festival, the Surui did not have to pay a percentage on sales of arts and crafts, a form of donation for which we thank Daniel Rosselat.

As well as for visitors, this was a rare opportunity for the Surui to show their arts and crafts, and to sell so much in so little time. They come from a remote area of Brasil where most people are not supportive of them and their culture.