Living Context: Indigenous Language Integration at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Authors:

• Brandon Castle, Museology Graduate Program
• Chair: Jessica Luke
• Rebecca Andrews
• Dr. Miranda Belarde-Lewis

Abstract:

As Indigenous Peoples are increasingly becoming involved with museums and heritage preservation efforts, new strategies and practices that center Indigenous perspectives are being embraced by museum practitioners. The integration of Indigenous museum practices presents an opportunity for museum practitioners to build upon relationships with Indigenous communities and increase access to museum collections. The purpose of this study was to understand museum practitioners’ perspectives on the use of Indigenous language integration as a strategy for Indigenizing collections management practices in museums. Using a case study design with multiple data sources, data were collected through facilitated interviews with collections management practitioners at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington. Results of this study point to the potential outcomes of integrating Indigenous languages including countering colonial suppression, increasing a sense of Indigeneity, enhancing collections accessibility, and making overall social change. Implications suggest that Indigenous language integration in museums is a holistic undertaking which requires an institutional awareness of historical practice and a fuller understanding of Indigenous communities’ cultural heritage preservation needs and efforts.