Reflections on Reinventing the Museum, Part 2

I found this week’s reading very insightful and relevant to the current legal debates, concerns over ethical practices, and changing methodologies within the field of museum studies. I also felt as though the readings really complemented one another, thus reinforcing the significance and importance of each article. I was very excited to read the piece co-authored by Walter Echo-Hawk. Because I have had the opportunity to meet him and read his other works, I was expecting a very detailed and knowledgeable assessment of NAGPRA. After reading the article, however, I was somewhat disappointed. I thought that the article succeeded in providing a brief introduction to NAGPRA and a general framework through which to discuss and analyze issues of repatriation. However, I felt as though the article was extremely one-sided, examining this issue from the standpoint of museums, and that the article disregarded many of the current problems that the Native people still contend with as a result of NAGPRA. In claiming that, “we are confident that museums and native people will succeed in resolving questions regarding collections and enriching the interpretation of Native American life and culture,” both authors overlook the extreme controversy that is still associated with this piece of legislation.

 

American Indian scholar Greg Johnson has done extensive research regarding this piece of legislation, especially as it pertains to Native Hawaiians. One of the main points that Johnson mentions as problematic revolves around the legal language of NAGPRA. In his book, Sacred Claims, Johnson asserts that the term “cultural affiliation” is too vague and will lead to future confrontations between tribes and museum representative. Although Monroe and Echo-Hawk explain the ramifications of this piece of legislation, their assessment of the overall effects of NAGPRA fall short thus rendering their article superficial in many ways.

 

In addition to “Deft Deliberations,” I also found that Corrin’s article, “Mining the Museum: An Installation Confronting History” really resonated with me. I think that this is due to my recent visit to the Idaho Historical Museum. The instillation described in this article lead me to further contemplate (or dislike, criticize, loathe?) the obvious and numerous problems within the exhibits in the Idaho museum. I find it extremely frustrating and sickening to think that such innovative ideas, methods, and design concepts are nurtured and encouraged at some museums, while other museums deliberately disregard any new practices within the field of museum studies.