Decolonizing Through Virtual Repatriation: A New Vision of Collections Access

This project, which began in November 2021 and will end in January 2024, served as a pilot project to initiate decolonization practices at the Anchorage Museum through the virtual repatriation of images and material culture related to Chickaloon Native Village (CNV). The project expanded access to collections, created access to digital surrogates and newly created metadata through consultation with Tribal staff and Ahtna and Dena’ina community members. Indigenous communities consistently identify a need to bring material culture and archives home, but true repatriation outside of NAGPRA can only occur if control is relinquished. This project took the next step in access by relinquishing power to support the relationship between the collections and the people who originated them. Tribal citizens, descendants, researchers interested Ahtna communities will benefit from the project outcomes. However, Elders and Tribal citizens of CNV benefitted the most, by reconnecting with their cultural heritage and each other which further supports the restoration and rejuvenation of their traditional Ahtna Dene knowledge and values.

Photographs courtesy of Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Permanent Collections and Archives.