Repatriating Knowledge: Community Engagement Through Museum Collections

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2021 Museums have been stewards of cultural knowledge since their conception. However, oftentimes the knowledge they have retained is knowledge that has been lost by communities impacted by colonization. Museums are beginning to think critically abou...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mathison, Rose
Other Authors: Selvakumar, Meena
Language:unknown
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1773/49534
Description
Summary:Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2021 Museums have been stewards of cultural knowledge since their conception. However, oftentimes the knowledge they have retained is knowledge that has been lost by communities impacted by colonization. Museums are beginning to think critically about how they can engage source communities more beneficially, and better serve their strong request of reclaiming their traditional knowledge. One of those means is through utilizing heritage materials found in museum collections. Through the analysis of two case studies involving the Sugpiaq community of Kodiak, Alaska, the Alutiiq Museum, and the Burke Museum, this research argues the positive impact museum can impart on source communities searching to revitalize traditional heritage knowledge back into a living context.