Native Communities, Museums and Collaboration

Abstract

Although this article concerns itself primarily with the relationship of contemporary American Indians to American museums, I want to place it within a larger historical frame than is commonly done. Americans generally have a poor sense of history and we often reinvent the wheel in the name of innovation and creativity. In the atmosphere of postmodern anthropology this is often the case as personal experience trumps orthodoxy or convention. Accordingly, I will provide some background information that provides greater context to modern situations.