New York City’s American Museum of Natural History is taking action to comply with updated federal regulations that require institutions to obtain consent from Indigenous tribes before displaying certain artifacts. The museum will be closing its Eastern Woodlands and Great Plains halls, as well as covering seven cases displaying Indigenous artifacts in other areas. This decision comes as part of a broader effort by museums to change their relationships and representations of Indigenous cultures.
The regulations, which came into effect on January 12th, are a result of an executive order signed by President Joe Biden to support tribal self-determination. The order called for revisions to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a federal law that governs the ownership and control of Native American cultural items. The updated regulations now require museums and federal agencies to obtain consent from tribes before displaying human remains and cultural artifacts.
While tribal leaders have advocated for the repatriation of artifacts and remains, there are concerns that the identification process could be burdensome for tribes. Additionally, institutions have faced challenges in determining the origins of items that may have been acquired in problematic ways. In response to these concerns, the museum has been working to remove most human remains from display and has previously announced the removal of some artifacts.
The closures will have an impact on school field trips, as the Eastern Woodlands hall is a popular stop for approximately 500,000 children who visit the museum each year. The American Museum of Natural History is not alone in making these changes, as other major institutions such as the Field Museum in Chicago and the Cleveland Museum of Art have also taken similar actions to comply with the new regulations.
Museum President Sean M. Decatur explained that these changes reflect the evolving nature of museums and their commitment to reflecting changing ideas. The closures are a necessary step towards respecting the values, perspectives, and shared humanity of Indigenous peoples.
For more information, please visit F5mag.com.
Source link: Native American Displays Closed at Museum of Natural History in NYC