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It seems only natural to write about the events in my life and to share that information with all of my viewers out there, Mom, Dad, and one best friend.  I believe this is how knowledge is spread and today I will act as the knife and start spreading!

This past week I went to an electrifying talk put on by the LSA 2009-10 Theme Year, “Meaningful Objects: Museums in the Academy,” titled Growing Cultural Knowledge With Museum Collections. The speaker was Sven Haakanson, Jr. from the Alutiiq Museum in Alaska.

He was asked to come speak on behalf of his work towards recognizing the Alutiiq culture as an attempt to revitalize their ancestry, traditions and history.  In the first moments of his speech, I instantly realized he is one of the people I described last week who has found their passion and is completing work that they find important and necessary.  He was truly inspirational.

Not only did he grab and hold my attention for the 90-minute discussion, but he spoke about topics of colonization, discrimination, what it is like to be Native, and how all of these topics relate to museums and their mission.  He focused part of his lecture on the relationships he has made and has worked hard to maintain over the years with European museums that are not covered by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, better known as NAGPRA.  He said the ways in which museums learn from each other and share knowledge is through these close relationships based on trust.

Once, when he was visiting a museum in Germany, he found a mask in their collection that had its origins in the Alutiiq culture.  As his relationships with these international institutions grew, Haakanson was able to request that the objects be studied for educational purposes to which the museum complied.

His work and overarching goal is to alter perceptions.  He wants Natives to think differently about themselves and he wants Non-Natives to find themselves more in tune with the current events of Native people.

He wants to provide the youth of his people with a sense of identity, tradition, and hope.  Through learning about the works their people have created and displaying them in museums, he feels like he is giving the tools the Native children need in order to stand on their own feet with a sense of dignity.

This lecture emoted great energy because people were passionate and interested in learning more.  Communication is the learning device that will mobilize a greater change.  Continue to share with others your knowledge and be open to hear theirs as well.

Have a great weekend!

Sara majors in Art History and enjoys long walks.