Consejos: A Process Guide for Centering Decolonization in the Translation of Burke Boxes from English to Spanish

Authors:

• Michelle Villagomez, Museology Graduate Program
• Chair: Jessica Luke
• Devin Leatherman
• Eileen Jimenez

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Abstract:

This thesis presents Consejos, a community-rooted process guide developed to support culturally responsive translation of educational materials at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Focusing on the Spanish-language adaptation of Burke Boxes—curriculum kits used by educators—this project centered decolonization and Latine epistemologies in translation work. Inspired by the author's lived experience as a second-generation Mexicana and native Spanish speaker, this guide challenged dominant, English-centric translation practices that often disregard cultural nuance and community agency. The project drew on oral histories and consejos (cultural narratives and relational advice) from ten Latine educators and community leaders in the Seattle area, and identified three guiding principles: Relaciones y Comunidad (Relationships and Community), Cultura y Lenguaje (Culture and Language), and Identidad (Identity). These principles emphasize co-creation, linguistic diversity, and the importance of representation in educational resources. The project highlights translation as a relational process, advocating for practices that reflect the complexity and richness of the Latine community. Specific recommendations for the Burke Box program include prioritizing student-facing materials, integrating cultural context, and supporting Spanish as a language of origin. Equitable translation is not only a matter of access but a form of cultural affirmation, and museums have a responsibility to engage multilingual communities with care, integrity, and respect for their knowledge systems.

Poster:

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Project Deliverable:

Consejos: A Process Guide for Centering Decolonization in the Translation of Burke Boxes from English to Spanish

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