Three-dimensional, community-based heritage management of indigenous museum collections: Archaeological ethnography, revitalization and repatriation at the Sámi Museum Siida

Abstract

Abstract Ethnographic museum collections have traditionally been acquired, maintained, and utilized by anthropological and other museum-based researchers. Increasingly, indigenous communities consult museum holdings in order to inform social movements reclaiming cultural heritage, though collections and their records are often not conserved or made accessible with these goals in mind. We report a project conducted with Arctic Sami communities in collaboration with the Sami Museum Siida. Coupling the results of detailed ethnographic interviews with accessible three-dimensional modeling techniques – in particular photogrammetry – we propose a community-based methodology in archaeological ethnography aimed at increasing accessibility for descendant community members that may potentially expand collections’ use for researchers. Concurrently, we stress that such an integrative approach must be particularly cautious in the sharing of models of indigenous cultural heritage, which encounter frequent threats of misuse and appropriation in an era of easy 3D modeling and printing. This abstract appears below in North Sami. Davvisamegiella: Etnografalas museaid coakkaldagaid leat dabalaccat coaggan, bajasdoallan ja geavahan antropologiijadahje museasuorggi dutkit. Eamialbmotservosat galledit museaid coakkaldagaidain eanet ja eanet vai besset ealaskahttit iežaset kulturarbbi. Coakkaldagaidja daidda gullevas dieđuid eai goittotge dabalaccat leat seailluhan ja dahkanrabasin dan darkkuhusa varas. Darkilis etnografalas jearahallamiid bohtosiidovttastahttin alkit logahahtti 3D habmenteknihkkii, erenomažit fotogrammetriai- mii evttohit servosa geahccanguovllus vuolgi metodologiija, man ulbmilin leabuoridit coakkaldagaid rabasvuođa servosa lahtuide ja jos vejolas, maiddaidutkiide. Seammas mii deattuhit, ahte dakkar lahkonanvugiin 3D-malliidjuohkimis galga leat varrugas. Erenomažit dakkar eamialbmogiid bokte, geaidkulturarbbi geavahit boastut dala aiggis, goas 3D-habmen ja prenten lea alki.