Museums are one of the most common ways the public becomes educated on history. The following works to show the significance of the need to decolonize museums, historian's role in the historical production process of museums, and what decolonization in the museum actually entails. Below are some of the articles that have expanded my understanding of intersectionality and indigenization of the field of museology.
Galleries and museums are also where many professional 2-Spirit artists have made a space for themselves. Understanding both the reasons and types of exclusions within these museums, or the forced adaptation into western standards they can experience, better situates the space and conditions these artists live under. Their art is activism and museums are both a space to suppress or validate these voices.
Microsoft Word - MORE THAN 2S ETD FINAL (format).docx (washington.edu)
Cooper, Caitlin Skye. “More than Two-Spirit: Queer Indigenous Sovereignty and Survivance in Museums.” Scholarly Publishing Services - UW Libraries, June 1, 2017. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/39754.
This work does a fantastic job at providing a basis of how museum staff play into colonization from the curatorial process to executive decision making. It further demonstrates that decolonizing a museum means Indigenous voices are not just put on an equal platform or space as non-native artists, but that they are given control to show their history and art on their own terms.
Wolf_washington_0250O_21865.pdf
Wolf, Brady. “Modern Approaches to NAGPRA.” Scholarly Publishing Services - UW Libraries, January 1, 1970. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/45660.
This work outlines the difficulties academics, museum staff, and tribal representatives face through the repatriation process following NAGPRA and the steps necessary for improving the process as a whole.
Sprague_washington_0250O_22630.pdf
Sprague, Courtney E.P. “Decolonization and Databases: Examining Collections Management Systems and Decolonizing Practices.” Scholarly Publishing Services - UW Libraries, January 1, 1970. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/46970.
This work is essential for understanding the challenges and limitations both financially and in capability of digital databases, and how museums can work with Indigenous representatives to better improve how information is stored and conveyed digitally.
Examining the Small History Museum’s Impact on Place Identity (washington.edu)
Rommel, Grant. “Examining the Small History Museum's Impact on Place Identity.” Scholarly Publishing Services - UW Libraries, January 1, 1970. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/45667.
Understanding the role local public history has through museums, and the impact of inclusions and exclusions teaches a valuable lesson on why you should consider getting involved with your local museums.
Beyond that, many of these artists create their own spaces whether its an Indigenous-focused Comic Con or art galleries for Indigenous and 2-Spirit/Indigiqueer artists. It also highlights where even the queer spaces they perform in can uphold settler-colonialism, such as cultural appropriation within drag. These sources can be found in the annotated bibliography or through using the Contact form.