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Collaborating Beyond Collections: Engaging Tribes in Museum Exhibits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2019

Sheila Goff Open the ORCID record for Sheila Goff [Opens in a new window] ,
Betsy Chapoose ,
Elizabeth Cook  and
Shannon Voirol
Sheila Goff*
Affiliation:
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, USA
Betsy Chapoose
Affiliation:
Ute Indian Tribe, Uintah and Ouray Reservation, P.O. Box 190, Fort Duchesne, UT 84026, USA
Elizabeth Cook
Affiliation:
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, USA
Shannon Voirol
Affiliation:
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, USA
*
(sheilagabe@msn.com, corresponding author)
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Abstract

There has been—and continues to be—tension between Native peoples and museums in the United States due to past collecting practices and exhibitions that strive to interpret their culture and history without their involvement. Previously, many of these exhibitions stereotyped and lumped Native peoples together, depicting their cultures as static and interpreting them and their material culture from a Western scientific perspective. Changes are being made. Collaboration between Native peoples and museums in all areas of museum work, including exhibitions, is beginning to be considered by many as a best practice. Exhibitions developed in collaboration with Native peoples, with shared curatorial authority, decidedly help ease the historic tension between the two, and they are much more vibrant and accurate than when collaboration is lacking. This article will provide three examples of collaboration, defined with our tribal partners, to develop exhibitions at History Colorado, the state history museum, concluding with lessons learned.

Existen ciertas tensiones, actualmente como también han existido en el pasado, entre poblaciones indígenas por un lado y museos en los Estados Unidos por el otro lado, acerca de las prácticas de adquirir ejemplares de culturas indígenas y de preparer exhibiciones de los mismos, sin involucrar a gente indígena. Las exhibiciones de este tipo en el pasado a menudo eran caracterizadas por observaciones estereotipadas que muchas veces agruparon distintas poblaciones indígenas como que fueron una sola. Además, el material cultural de las exhibiciones era presentado como estático y la interpretación del mismo era exclusivamente de la perspectiva científica occidental. Sin embargo, se ven cambios en la actualidad. Ahora muchos consideran que la colaboración entre comunidades indígenas y museos en todos los ámbitos de trabajo en los museos, incluso el de las exhibiciones, es la práctica o método más recommendable. Las exhibiciones preparadas con comunidades indígenas, en la que se comparte la responsabilidad, ayuda mucho en disminuir la falta de confianza entre los indígenas y las profesionales de los museos. Las exhibiciones colaborativas son más llamativas y correctas que las exhibiciones que carecen de esta colaboración. La ponencia actual proporciona tres ejemplos de colaboración, realizados con nuestros socios indígenas, en exhibiciones en History Colorado, el museo estatal de historia, lo cual concluye con lecciones aprendidas.

Keywords

NAGPRAexhibitscollectionscollaborationtribesdecolonizationconsultationshared curatorial authorityexhibicionespoblaciones indígenasdescolonizaciónconsultacióncolecciones de museosautoridad curatorial compartida
Type
Articles
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 7 , Special Issue 3: Archaeological Collections Care: Current Topics and Innovative Trends in the Repository , August 2019 , pp. 224 - 233
Copyright
Copyright 2019 © Society for American Archaeology 

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References

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