ABSTRACT
Decolonization is fraught and unchartered territory for museums, and its implications for both society and museums are only now emerging. Decolonization must also allow the colonized to reclaim their traditional cultures and identities, including control over land. Decolonization is now being discussed and dealt with in various museums. Decolonization for museums must begin with an examination of the meaning and intent of repatriation, replete with its many complexities and uncertainties, and including both sacred and everyday belongings. This chapter examines the role and responsibilities of museums in decolonization, with a focus on repatriation. It explores the various flawed assumptions that are inhibiting many museums from taking more forthright action, with the intent of humanizing this most complex and challenging issue for museum practitioners. The chapter presents a personal story of life in northern Canada as the context for considering Indigenous rights and repatriation.
