Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

The Washington Post defines decolonization as “a process that institutions undergo to expand the perspectives they portray beyond those of the dominant cultural group, particularly white colonizers.” The Abbe Museum in Maine take a stronger approach by incorporating it into their strategic plan and defining it as “at a minimum, sharing authority for the documentation and interpretation of Native culture.” Decolonization is a process that many museums are undergoing now, but what does it really mean? The idea of colonizers versus the colonized is a binary that framed colonial thinking, but in this todays global world, does this continue to be a relevant frame of thinking? In current perspectives, can these binaries exist without each other? What do we mean when we say ‘native’ and ‘colonial’ culture? What are the tangible and intangible aspects related to each? What connects both of these? This study aims to recognize the potential of museum collections and expertise to be of service to Native and Global communities in various ways to educate about local culture, community health, economic development, and spiritual practice. Through interactive mapping and cognizance activities, we explore consequences of colonization on culture, heritage, and the narratives we have constructed. Activities will involve mapping concepts through visual cues of colonial buildings housing museums, displaced native artifacts, and cultural artifacts created by colonial powers. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the differences between the binaries of colonial and native narratives; and leads on how to decolonize narratives for different cultures and artifacts.