Language and Museums: Supporting Alaska Native Languages Through Collaborative Networking

With the ever-increasing risk of language loss and possible extinction of the world's Indigenous languages, museums are quickly becoming active supporters and valuable resources for communities engaged in revitalization initiatives. Although working with language material is inherently difficul...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: McClain, Heather J.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Digital Commons @ DU 2014
Subjects:
Alaska native languages
Collaborative networking
Intangible cultural heritage
Museums
Revitalization
Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences
Indigenous Studies
Museum Studies
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Arctic
Alaska
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/415
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/context/etd/article/1414/viewcontent/McClain_denver_0061M_11085.pdf
Description
Summary:With the ever-increasing risk of language loss and possible extinction of the world's Indigenous languages, museums are quickly becoming active supporters and valuable resources for communities engaged in revitalization initiatives. Although working with language material is inherently difficult for museums because of their traditionally object based nature, it is imperative for museums to focus on the documentation and preservation of language as intangible cultural heritage (ICH) because of the vital connection between language and culture. This thesis examines how museums in Alaska, particularly the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, Alaska Office, are supporting Alaska Native language and cultural revitalization through collaborative networks and the adoption of methodologies to successfully develop and implement language-based programming.

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