The exhibition remains open to the public until the end of 2026
The exhibition “Mbyá Rekó Arandu: The Guara Mbyá Culture of the Paraná Coast” has welcomed more than 19,000 visitors since its opening in July 2025. The exhibition will remain on display until the end of 2026 at the UFPR Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE/UFPR) in Paranaguá and is organized by TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, in partnership with six Guarani Mbyá indigenous communities from the Paraná coast, the MAE/UFPR, the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), and Acquaplan Technology and Environmental Consulting.
The highest number of visitors in a single month occurred in January 2026, during the holiday season and a peak tourist season on the Paraná coast: approximately 3,700 people visited the exhibition.
The exhibition represents six villages on the coast of Paraná: Araçaí (Piraquara), Karaguatá Poty and Guaviraty (Pontal do Paraná), Pindoty (Paranaguá), Kuaray Haxá (Morretes), and Kuaray Guata Porã (Guaraqueçaba). By visiting the exhibition, the public can learn—through the lens of Indigenous researchers—about the connections between spirituality, language, and territory, as well as forms of social organization and strategies for preserving traditional ways of life.
The exhibition features maps showing the presence of the Guarani Mbyá peoples in territories beyond the coast of Paraná, extending to other regions of Brazil and even to Paraguay and Argentina. (Credit: TCP/Press Release)
In total, the exhibition features 28 photographs, three previously unseen videos, and approximately 12 ceremonial objects, such as the Petynguá (pipe), Takuapu (bamboo), Mbaraká (guitar), Mbaraká Mirim (rattle), and the Angu’apu (drum). The content addresses central elements of Guarani culture, such as the sacred territory (Yvy Rupá), the prayer house (Opy), the baptism ritual (Nhemongaraí), the spiritual guardians (Xondaro), the Guarani language, and the sacred sites (Tava).
The exhibition invites the public to learn about the Guarani Mbyá people’s connections, spirituality, language, and territory from the perspective of Indigenous researchers. (Credit: TCP/Press Release)
The curation of the exhibition was carried out throughout 2024 through meetings between village representatives, Acquaplan technicians, and teams from MAE/UFPR. Together, they defined the exhibition’s themes, objects, and materials, guiding the construction of the exhibition based on the Guarani’s own memories and perspectives.
“From the start, our goal was to support a project that reflected the values and choices of the Guarani Mbyá communities themselves. More than a cultural initiative, this exhibition represents the strengthening of bonds, the recognition of diversity, and respect for the ways of life that shape the identity of the Paraná coast,” says Kayo Zaiats, TCP’s Environmental Superintendent.
Terminal employees had a special opportunity to take a guided tour of the exhibition during the 10th edition of TCP’s Internal Environment Week (SIMA). The program began on April 22 and features various activities that promote socio-environmental education and a more proactive stance toward sustainable practices and environmental preservation.
On Saturday (25), the program concludes with the traditional Environmental Paddle, an initiative that mobilizes the community and employees to collect waste from the banks of the Itiberê River, reinforcing the importance of environmental preservation and the protection of river waters throughout the Paranaguá ecosystem.
Visit the exhibition “Mbyá Rekó Arandu: The Guara Mbyá Culture of the Paraná Coast”
The exhibition remains open with free admission from Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at MAE/UFPR, located at Rua XV de Novembro, 575 – Historic Center of Paranaguá. Guided tours can be scheduled at least 5 business days in advance via the link https://share.google/jYB9xym8IN5iyc10C.
