There may not be federal laws about this issue, but some of the federal
agencies that we have agreements with also have agreements with Tribes not to
allow display or photography of certain objects, and both agreements must be
met for us to hold the collection.  We just don't allow photography in our
Ethnographic gallery at all.  If anyone asks, we cite copyright issues,
sensitivity of objects to light levels, ownership of designs by Native
American families, etc. By the time we get to number 3, they usually get the
point and just move on.  We are in the process of photographing those objects
that are mutually agreed upon as allowable for public access so that copies of
images can be provided for a small fee and a signature acknowledging that
patrons will not distribute the images for commercial gain.


Janice Klein wrote:
> Actually, Federal law says absolutely nothing about photography (or display
> or storage) of objects that Native people identify as sacred but are not
> requested for repatriation.   It can be Museum policy to treat those objects
> differently than the rest of the collection, but it is not a legal
> requirement.
>
> If indeed, the appropriate tribal representatives have requested that
> certain objects not be photographed, then it is the Museum's decision to
> honor that request.   The answer to the Navajo who want to photograph a
> Sioux object is then simply, we are honoring the Sioux's request; wouldn't
> you want us to honor any request you might make about Navajo objects as
> well?
>
> Janice Klein
> Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
> [log in to unmask]
> www.mitchellmuseum.org
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> FROM AMY WEST, HIGGINS ARMORY
>
> 2 examples from our place:
>
> When we had an exhibit of Russian icons, our conservator (who also designed
> the exhibit) made a kneeler that went in front of the focal point (icon of
> Mary & Jesus) of the exhibit. I thought that was a great idea.
>
> The next is a bit more problematic:
> We have a Native American headdress on display -- on loan to us from a
> smaller institution -- and we instruct visitor that there are no
> photographs of it allowed. We get the "why?" And the stock response handed
> down from on high is because of Federal law recognizing the religious
> wishes of the Native Americans (because it's a religious/ceremonial
> artefact, etc.). That usually puts things to rest. The headdress is Sioux.
> I had some Navajo visitors come through and when I told them no photography
> of the headdress, they asked, well, what if *we* want to photograph it?
> Talk about awkward moments! I replied, that's entirely up to you.
>
>
> ---Amy
>
> ------------------------------
> Look, I have ONE job on this lousy ship. It's STUPID, but I'm gonna do it,
> OKAY?
> - Gwen DeMarco in _Galaxy Quest_
>
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--
D. Lynn Murdoch
Anthropology Collections Manager
Idaho Museum of Natural History
Idaho State University, Campus Box 8096
5th Ave. and Dillon Street
Pocatello, Idaho 83209


http://imnh.isu.edu
[log in to unmask]
(208) 282-4954
(208) 282-5893 FAX

=========================================================
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