May 24, 2023

Collaboration Between Museums and Indigenous Partners

Thursday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. CT

Kate McElvaney,?Gabriela Truly, and Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science opened the new Hall of the Americas?last year, after extensive collaborative work with an Indigenous Advisory Group, developing long-term relationships that continue beyond the exhibit preparations. Staff from the museum will share how the Indigenous Advisory Group provided guidance on all aspects of the exhibit planning, through a review process that succeeded in bringing everyone involved into a true partnership, ensuring that the Hall itself has an authentic Indigenous voice proclaiming the very important message: WE ARE STILL HERE.

Tribal Collaboration, Sovereignty, and Methodology: An Ndee (Apache) Perspective

Thursday, June 29, 2:00 p.m. CT

Nicholas Laluk, University of California, Berkeley

While current collaborative projects between museums and Tribes are increasingly emphasizing Tribal goals, many of the legacies of early interpretations and understandings of Indigenous cultures in the U.S. remain. A member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Dr. Laluk will help clarify Federal Indian Law, what terms like ?sovereignty? mean to Tribal Nations, and how Tribes are asserting their own forms of sovereignty, leading to better understandings of Indigenous pasts, present, and futures.

These webinars are presented as part of Consultation and Collaboration: A Starting Point for Museums and Indigenous Tribes,?a collaboration between the?Bullock Texas State History Museum, the?Texas Historical Commission, and the?Texas Department of Transportation.

In addition to Museum Services' own free webinars, we also maintain a list of free webinars hosted by other organizations, which is updated daily. Highlights include:

• How to Launch a Virtual Museum, May 25, 11:00 a.m. CT, Association of Indiana Museums
• Collections Management Policy Toolkit, June 7, 12:00 p.m. CT, Connecting to Collections Care
• Using Oral Histories, June 8, 10:30 a.m. CT, Indiana Historical Society
• NAGPRA Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning, June 21 and 28, 2:00 p.m. CT, New England Museum Association

About Us

The Texas Historical Commission?s Museum Services Program provides support, resources, and training to history museums in Texas. Museum Services staff are available to provide individual consultations to museum staff and supporters. We encourage museums to contact us with questions or to schedule a phone consultation.

Viewpoints shared and information developed and distributed by other organizations and presenters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Historical Commission and its staff.