Reconstructing Indigenous Practices in Museum Settings: Perspectives and Approaches

Museum collections present rich resources for the recovery and reconstruction of indigenous technologies and practices that may have been partially or completely lost in recent centuries. Archaeologists in particular have frequently engaged with museum artifacts in attempts to reconstruct the lifeways, technologies, and histories of indigenous populations. Additionally, anthropologists, curators, conservators, historians, artisans and craftspeople, all of whom may be members or non-members of indigenous communities, have engaged and will continue to engage with the material legacy of indigenous populations in museums. Dialogue among members of these groups is essential to the enrichment and ethical practice of museum research within and beyond the field of archaeology, and we propose this session as an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of: methods and techniques of analysis in museum settings; the production, display, and dissemination of knowledge related to past and present indigenous practices in museum settings; the ethical and epistemological concerns that arise with native and non-native engagement with museum collections. The session draws on contributions from specialists in diverse fields and of diverse cultural backgrounds with the aim of furthering common goals in the area of indigenous material-culture studies as well as archaeological engagement with professional and public stakeholders.