Repatriating Knowledge: Community Engagement Through Museum Collections

Abstract

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.