Abstract
This article considers the connections between museum collections and communities, and explores the ways in which this relationship has been transformed by recourse to ancestral Māori culture in New Zealand museums. Two case studies illustrate the application of the Indigenous concept of mana taonga at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Whanganui Regional Museum, which have indigenised professional practice in collection care, governance, interpretation and exhibition development. Reversing the conventional Western model of museum ownership of collections, the authors argue that the strong connections between taonga (treasures) and their descendent source communities can be used not only to acknowledge the mana (status, power, authority) of ancestral objects, but also to enhance the mana of those communities within the museum, effectively giving them a greater say in how their cultural heritage is managed.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.