Partnership in the preservation of cultural heritage at the National Museum of the American Indian *

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) works in partnership with Native American communities in the preservation of all aspects of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Expanded views of preservation over the past decades, fuelled by Indigenous activism, international recognition of intangible cultural heritage, United States legislation, and the concept of shared stewardship in caring for collections have made it possible for a museum with NMAI’s mission of partnership to come into existence. The way NMAI conservators engage with Native communities has also evolved since the establishment of the conservation unit in 1991. United Nations declarations, US legislation, and professional ethical codes have all guided NMAI conservators in developing their working protocol, but NMAI’s mission and collections policy provide clear direction and support to work in collaboration and partnership with Native and Indigenous stakeholders to facilitate the preservation of tangible and intangible aspects of the collection. In addition to detailing changes in legal and professional guidelines, the paper describes evolving methodologies for community engagement that promote partnerships between NMAI and Native American communities.