ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author delineates a more complicated narrative that, while not denying the horror that lies behind museum collections, offers an alternative perspective from the vantage point of contemporary practice at the Field Museum. She suggests that the differences in the trajectories and processes of cultural violence among North and South American indigenous peoples has led to different possibilities for future ways to think about “repatriation” and “reparation” as remedy for the harm done over the centuries. However, the peculiarities of the Amazon landscape and the character of the penetration by capitalism has meant that the consequences of cultural violence have not been total destruction. Museums are repositories for looted or legitimately excavated Andean gold and ceramics and other precious artifacts. Literally thousands of Andean civilization artifacts can be found in museums around the world, and looting of Andean ancient sites continues apace. The author concludes by describing future projects are contemplating with the collections from both regions.
