Exploring Engagement: Indigenous Communities and Natural History Museum Paleontology

Authors:

• Nancy Wynstra-Cope, Master of Arts in Museology
• Chair: Meena Selvakumar
• Katherine Anderson
• Sandy Littletree

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Abstract:

In the fields of museology and paleontology, there is growing interest in collaborating with Indigenous communities in North America as professionals understand and acknowledge the colonial history of paleontology, which includes extractive and exclusionary practices. Because collaboration with Indigenous communities in paleontological museum practice is still new, there is a lack of research about what professionals are currently doing and how they started collaborating. The purpose of this research is to explore what types of museum professionals are engaging with communities, what that engagement looks like, and what factors and barriers influence decision-making and actions. Many professionals are aware of this growing interest and want to start or continue engagement with Indigenous communities, but there are many barriers that make collaboration difficult.