> This is a fascinating topic. But, it seems to me that some of these comments
>can be characterized as rather bigoted. The Egyptian people don't seem to feel
>this way about the dead. And as I recall, the display of skeletal remains is
>common in Mexico, The Vatican and many other countries. In portions of
>Polynesia, in fact, it was common practice to consume and/or desecrate the
>remains of the enemy dead. I believe this was true of some Native American
>peoples as well. Should this not be interpreted and given equal emphasis in a
>museum on Native Americans ?  Perhaps the issue is not so cut and dried as Mr.
>Apodaca claims. My personal feeling is that we should respect the wishes of
>the descendants of the people concerned, but should we hide the truth and
>should we impose our beliefs and values on other peoples ? This smacks to me
>of mater/paternalism regardless of its origin.
 
Robert
 
 
 
 
 
 
>Mr Apodaca:
>
>If all curators agreed on the subject, why are so many replying with
>technical suggestions about how to display the remains in these
>micro-climates? While I may agree with you on this issue, it seems that your
>colleagues don't all hold the same view. Why aren't the remains of an
>ancient Egyptian treated in the same manner as the remains of a Native
>American by all professionals in your field?
>
>Wendy Botting
>Cornell University
>
>
>
>
>In message Wed, 17 Aug 1994 16:48:38 -0800,
>  Paul Apodaca <[log in to unmask]>  writes:
>
>> Wendy Botting writes:
>>
>>
>>> Any comments from curators at the Smithsonian or from U. Penn's
>>>  archaeology museum? I'm sure this issue is not as cut-and-dried (bad
>>> metaphor) as Mr. Prouty suggests.
>>>
>>
>> I have been a principal consultant for NMAI and do not know of any
>> exhibition plans that would contradict Mr. Prouty. As a curator with 15
>> years service, I know of no need to exhibit the type of material in
>> question. As a Navajo, I can find numerous religious reasons for
>> respecting the dead. If this issue is not cut-and-dried, it should be. I
>> believe Mr. Prouty is speaking from the best stance one can take on this
>> issue.
>> Paul Apodaca
>> Curator of Native American Art
>> Bowers Museum
>> Santa Ana, CA
>> Paul Apodaca
>>
 
 
Robert O. Dahl
Interpretation and Conceptual Exhibit Design            Ph:(602) 797-4752
 
8421 N. Via Tioga
Tucson, AZ 85704
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