Addressing Colonialism in Museums
EUGENE, Ore. - The Native American and Museum Collaboration addressed how museums can approach colonialism, as well as ways to collaborate with Native stakeholders to create an inclusive perspective. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History hosted the event with the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House and the 1888 Society on Oct. 24.
The event, which drew in roughly 40 attendees, was a long-awaited project for Deana Dartt, an MNCH advisory council member and the co-writer of the “Standards for Museums with Native American Collection.” She has been working for nearly a year to bring this conversation to the community.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 3,338 American Indian and Alaska Natives in the Eugene-Springfield area, making up 71.4% of the Native population in Lane County. The MNCH and Shelton McMurphey Johnson House hope this event will build a respectful and stronger relationship with the Native communities and cultural institutions.
Dartt emphasized how museums are seen as authoritative institutions that shape public narratives. Museums worldwide host hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and Native people's history is rarely told. “Museums need to truthfully address the history and legacy of Native people,” said Dartt. “That could be from including the work and perspective on native artists, historians and anthropologists.”
Dartt explained that many historical societies have vast collections of Native American materials but never saw themselves as a Native American museum. As a result, they have not worked with Native people to retell stories or identify the materials in their possession to see if they are sacred or ceremonial. Even if the pieces are correctly identified, they may not be presented from the Native People’s perspective.
Dartt emphasized that the decolonization of museums requires commitment, willingness to do the work and deference to the local homelands, where the pieces originate. “It doesn't mean giving all the power to native people,” Dartt said. “It's about just aligning our work and our efforts with native goals and values.”
One way museums can respect the legacy of Native Peoples is through the American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a federal law that requires museums to return human remains to Native Americans. Native Americans and the museums work together to create cultural sensitivity and respect for Indigenous traditions. Rachel Paul, a NAGPRA program specialist at the MNCH, said, “The hope is to build stronger relationships between the museum and Native peoples, and bring more education to the public at large.”
“The museum is working with the local native people to achieve native goals and to align with native values, and to alert the whole community that they are on native land,” said Dartt.
One way the MNCH did that was through the signage in front of the building. It was designed by Stephanie Littlebird, a Grand Ronde tribal member, a featured artist in their exhibit and an artist-activist. “This shows how the museum is trying to continue the legacy, stewardship and recognition that we are on indigenous land,” said Todd Braje, the executive director of the MNCH.
Other museums and historical buildings are following that example. “We really want to become part of the museum community and recognize our place in Eugene's history,” said Leah Murray, executive director of the Shelton McMurphey House. “By acknowledging we were not the first ones here and we are not the only ones here.”