O'Donnell, WilsonSprague, Courtney E.P.2021-07-072021-07-072021-07-072021Sprague_washington_0250O_22630.pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/1773/46970Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2021Decolonizing museum collections continues to be an important topic in the museum field, but limited research has been done on the efficacy of databases in terms of enhancing decolonizing practices. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine decolonizing practices in collections management databases in museums with Indigenous collections. Those selected for study included privileging of the following practices: incorporating Indigenous knowledge (perspective, language, and protocols), accepting Indigenous authority, and providing Indigenous peoples access to information and objects in museum collections. The first method in this phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews with seven collections specialists about their experiences with collections management databases and decolonizing practices in six institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The second used document analysis of three institutions’ collections policies and decolonizing initiatives. Findings suggest all museums had collaborated with source communities about Indigenous knowledge entered into the databases, but the extent of capabilities and utilization of decolonizing practices in collections management systems was inconsistent. None of those interviewed had discussions with Indigenous communities on the choice of the current collections management database, though a majority were in the process of seeking new collections management systems to replace those that had been in use for ten or more years in the museum. Access to the database was also inconsistent, and particularly dependent on system features. Limitations of this study included the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduling interviews, the time needed to complete the research, and the final sample size potentially not being representative of all museums.application/pdfen-USnonecollections management systemdecolonizationIndigenous knowledgemuseumsMuseum studiesMuseologyThesis