After our initial symposium, we’ve organized other events to continue the conversation on museum decolonization. Here’s just a few.
“Seeding Authority: A Roundtable Discussion on Decolonizing Initiatives at Four Institutions”
Western Museum Association Annual Meeting
Boise, ID, October 2019
Presenter(s):
Teresa Valencia, Director of Curation and Education, ‘Iolani Palace
Kamalu du Preez, Assistant Collections Manager, Ethnology Department, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Brandie MacDonald, Director of Decolonizing Initiatives, San Diego Museum of Man
Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu, Assistant Specialist, Public Humanities and Native Hawaiian Programs, University of Hawaiëi at Manoa
Karen K. Kosasa (Moderator), Director of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Inspired by a recent decolonizing symposium in Hawaii, this session explores what happens when museums shift from “ceding” to “seeding” authority and view indigenous relations as acts that are generative rather than reductive. Staff from ‘Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, San Diego Museum of Man, and UH Manoa share their experiences ranging from board dynamics to implementing decolonial policies to addressing historical harm as they sow seeds for a new future between museums and indigenous communities.
“Seeding Authority: Continuing the Conversation on Decolonizing the Museum”
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
November 7, 2019
Presenters:
Amy Lonetree, Associate Professor of History, University of California – Santa Cruz
Ben Garcia, Deputy Director and Chief Learning Officer, Ohio History Connection
Noelle Kahanu, Assistant Specialist of Public Humanities and Native Hawaiian Programs
Over 50 community members, scholars, and museum professionals joined us to engage in conversation around the many ways in which museums are responding to national and global calls to decolonize. The main question driving the conversation was what factors are encouraging museums to move from ceding authority to seeding authority?
