1st Edition

Museums and Maori Heritage Professionals, Indigenous Collections, Current Practice

By Conal McCarthy Copyright 2011
    334 Pages
    by Routledge

    334 Pages
    by Routledge

    This groundbreaking book explores the revolution in New Zealand museums that is influencing the care and exhibition of indigenous objects worldwide. Drawing on practical examples and research in all kinds of institutions, Conal McCarthy explores the history of relations between museums and indigenous peoples, innovative exhibition practices, community engagement, and curation. He lifts the lid on current practice, showing how museum professionals deal with the indigenous objects in their care, engage with tribal communities, and meet the needs of visitors. The first critical study of its kind, Museums and Maori is an indispensible resource for professionals working with indigenous objects, indigenous communities and cultural centers, and for researchers and students in museology and indigenous studies programs.

    Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction: Museums and indigenous people -- Part one: From monoculturalism to biculturalism -- 1 Before Te Maori -- 2 The Te Maori exhibition -- 3 After Te Maori -- Part two: Biculturalism in practice -- 4 Into a new century -- 5 Reforming museology at Te Papa -- 6 Evolving museum practice -- Part three: Beyond biculturalism? -- 'A new net goes fishing' -- 8 Biculturalism and its discontents.

    Biography

    Conal McCarthy

     "Aside from providing an accurate critical analysis of the history of biculturalism as it is played out on New Zealand’s cultural stage, this book is of interest to folklorists and anthropologists in terms of thinking differently about decolonization, identity, indigeneity, and self-determination vis-à-vis material objects and display."

    Suzanne MacAulay, University of Colorado