Unit Author: Jessie Ryker-Crawford, Ph.D. (White Earth Chippewa) Associate Professor of Museum Studies, Institute of American Indian Arts
Tribal Diversity
Description
Native American tribes are as diverse as European cultures are; the Northwest Coast Tlingit culture is as different from the Woodlands Anishinaabe (or Chippewa) culture, as German culture is from Italian culture. Languages, belief systems, and lifeway philosophies all differ greatly between tribal communities. For this reason the repatriation process is not always straightforward, for vastly different norms and protocols will need to be respected and followed.
This lesson plan explores a few of the basic differences surrounding the care of human remains and culturally sensitive objects, and some of the issues that participants on all sides need to be made aware of.
Learning Goals
- To understand basic various cultural protocols surrounding the repatriation process
- To comprehend how the repatriation process is a fluid and dynamic act
- To integrate NAGPRA compliance measures into healthy and celebratory modes of community collaboration
Terms and Concepts
- Change and Adaptation
- Community Relevance
- Cultural Protocol
- Diverse Perspectives
- Multifaceted Discourse
- Respect, Humbleness (or Humility) & Pride Theory - RHP
Reading Lists
Background for Instructors
Reading, Undergraduates & Graduates: In, James Riding. “Repatriation: A Pawnee’s Perspective.” American Indian Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 2, 1996, pp. 238–50. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1185703.
Reading, Graduates: Bieulieu, Kathryn, et. al (2007). "Protocols for Native American Archival Materials."
Website: The School for Advanced Research’s “Community + Museums: Guidelines for Collaboration”
PowerPoint: Tribal Diversity (will be available soon!)
Student Readings
Video: “NAGPRA and Tribal Diversity within the Repatriation Process” with Jessie Ryker-Crawford [notes/transcript]
Activity and Assessment Ideas
Fully explore the “Community + Museums: Guidelines for Collaboration” website; take note on how the culture of museums is described for tribal community members so that they understand the intricacies of the museum field and how to access museum collections.
- What is the Pawnee’s view of death – once a person passes on, what happens then? And how does the disinterment of their remains effect the ancestor(s)?
- Riding In’s grandmother referred to “spiritual holocaust.” Please describe in detail what she meant by this.
- Conduct some research on one of the two organizations that James Riding in mentioned, and their stances on repatriation: The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) or The National Congress of the American Indian (NCAI); both present their stances on repatriation on their website
- The Protocols for Native American Archival Materials lays out some guidelines on how to begin the consultation process with Native American tribal communities. Gleaning from this material, prepare a workable step-by-step guide on how to accomplish the repatriation process with diverse tribal communities.
- View Jim Enote’s introduction to this website, and explore some of the case studies; note how collaborative models are being utilized with diverse communities and museums