It's been a year since I finished my Master's Thesis. If anyone is interested, whether you're into Art, Art History, American History, or Native American Studies, my thesis-- in short-- is about the Westward Expansion's role in the foundational structure of American Museums and their complex relationship with Indigenous tribes.
The Historical Role of Westward Expansion Between American Museums and Indigenous Tribes
I was already questioning the practices, interpretations, and representation of tribal communities that museums have been doing. But working as a Museum Services Associate at a state anthropology museum, I've had staff dismiss my ideas from the amount of work I was putting into to my position and my visitor-interaction-- mainly for those who wanted a first-hand input from an Indigenous pov. The one that kicked everything into motion was hearing a few faculty/museum staff commenting:
They should be grateful that we have their stuff in our museums.
I don't see the point talking with tribes about the pieces in our museum.
Not long after, I graduated from undergrad and was automatically let go from my student-position at the museum. Half a year later, I began my online accelerated masters program at an out-state university. When it was time to put out an idea on what my thesis should be, I thought of my experiences and interests in museums and the relationship and history they have with tribes. Thus my thesis was born!
By the time I finished, I was already 3 months in working at another museum. The atmosphere has been positively different and I've been grateful in the experiences of being supported and encouraged to use my skills and backgrounds towards my position and onwards. I'm still in the Museum Services department as a supervisor and I'll be starting in January in an online Public History program to help my career in the museum field.
It might be overwhelming because its a total of 121 pages, but give the thesis a read if you'd like!
