News

By Isabel Keane

May 18, 2023 | 4:30pm

A Denver museum stated it’s going to shut a piece dedicated to Native Americans as a result of the decades-old exhibit is problematic and “reinforces harmful stereotypes.”

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science shared a letter shared with members that stated the North American Indian Cultures Hall perpetuates a “white, dominant culture” and will likely be shuttered this summer time.

The corridor was created within the Nineteen Seventies in collaboration with Indigenous representatives, the museum’s vice chairman of exhibitions wrote within the letter, according to 9News.

Even although Indigenous folks helped create the corridor, museum officers say it nonetheless fails to rise above “harmful stereotypes.”

“Despite collaboration with Indigenous representatives during its creation and ongoing efforts by curators, conservators, and others to update and improve various parts of the Hall, we acknowledge that it remains problematic,” the vice chairman, Liz Davis, wrote.

“We understand that the Hall reinforces harmful stereotypes and white, dominant culture.”

An outline of the exhibit says guests had been capable of view “authentic reconstructed dwellings, including an Inuit snow house, a Northwest Coast clan house, a Navajo hogan, and a Cheyenne tipi,” in addition to craft weavings, baskets, beadwork and pottery.

Museum-goers had been additionally capable of take heed to audio tales and think about movies whereas wandering by the exhibit.

“To acknowledge the harm we have caused, we have developed and agreed upon a healing statement in collaboration with Indigenous consultants, and with input and guidance from conversations with community members. The statement was crafted after taking into account the concerns expressed by the community, and in direct response to those concerns,” Davis stated within the letter.

The therapeutic assertion has been put in in the beginning of the North American Indian Cultures exhibit corridor, in addition to online.

“Together with Indigenous community members, we will reimagine exhibition curation, collecting, programming and conservation practices with respect to Indigenous culture, heritage and belongings. We recognize that there is more work to be done, and we are committed to working with, and for, community members as we move forward in reimagining our practices,” the letter continued.

The information was met with blended suggestions by Museum-goers online, leaving some questioning why the entire exhibit must be scrapped as an alternative of simply re-imagined.

Others applauded the Museum, noting the information made them completely happy to listen to.

“Will you reimagine this exhibit? I’ve always enjoyed looking at this exhibit because I loved the craftmanship of the textiles etc. I’d love to see this come back in a new and exciting way!” one Facebook consumer wrote.

Others questioned whether or not objects contained in the corridor could be returned to Indigenous households or reservations.

“Has the museum considered returning the collections to the tribes to which they belong?” one individual wrote.

Some on social media lamented seeing a favourite museum attraction go, commenting beneath the Museum’s Facebook put up, “I love this exhibit and am sad to see it go.” Others chimed in saying it was “fantastic news.”

While the corridor will likely be closing in some unspecified time in the future this summer time, the museum has not stated when a redesigned exhibit could be anticipated to be unveiled.