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CCI Newsletter, No. 38, 2007

Symposium 2007: An Aboriginal Conservator's Perspective

Symposium 2007 Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal people and conservation specialists to learn from one another — in an atmosphere of mutual respect — about traditional, technical, ethical, and intangible aspects of the conservation of Aboriginal material culture. To ensure the Symposium meets the needs and expectations of the Aboriginal community, the event is being organized with input and guidance from an Advisory Committee comprising members of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities across Canada.

One of the members of this committee, Kathy Nanowin, was kind enough to share with us her insight into the conservation of Aboriginal artifacts. Kathy is a member of the God’s Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba, and of Cree/Ojibway/French heritage. She is currently an Assistant Conservator at The Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg, MB.

What’s your background and how did you come to be involved with museums and collections?
Well, I’ve always been interested in museums. As a child I wanted to visit every museum I saw on our family vacation trips. And I was interested in history. My dad told me and my brother all about our family history. But I fell into conservation by accident, after reading an article in a magazine about the conservation training course at Sir Sandford Fleming College. I thought that it sounded interesting, and I applied and was accepted into the course. I loved it right away.

From your perspective as a conservator, has the care of Aboriginal artifacts changed in the past 15 years? As one of the few Aboriginal conservators in Canada, has your job changed?
I think that there is much more awareness now among conservators about the intangible aspects of objects and heritage. There certainly has been quite a bit published about the issue in heritage journals. Miriam Clavir’s book¹ about conservation and First Nations highlighted the philosophical differences quite well. Personally, I find that I often take an even more hands-off approach than before, in working with Aboriginal objects. I also feel more privileged than ever to be a conservator, to be involved in taking care of part of my heritage.

Does being a conservator of First Nations background affect your approach to the care of Aboriginal artifacts?
I always knew that some Aboriginal artifacts should be treated differently than other objects. But I didn’t have traditional knowledge, and the issue wasn’t covered during my training, so I have really been taught by my Museum’s curator, Katherine Pettipas, about which particular objects I could work on, or not, and the ethical restrictions. I think the main difference my background makes is that I can easily appreciate the Aboriginal point of view towards the care and treatment of objects. Ideas such as not treating something, and consulting originating communities, make perfect sense to me, whereas conservators with a different background sometimes find them hard to accept, or perhaps just don’t think of them.

What kinds of experiences have you had at The Manitoba Museum with collections care issues and Aboriginal communities?
Katherine Pettipas has really taken on the responsibility of learning about and understanding the necessary steps to care for the collection, such as undergoing sweats, and consulting with Elders, pipe carriers, and other keepers of traditional knowledge. She works with the communities and collections in areas such as sacred material, proper cultural care, and repatriation. I don’t have traditional knowledge, so I know that my role is limited in these areas. In these cases, it is not appropriate for the Conservation Department to be involved, and I understand that.

Personally, I’ve been involved with making mounts for Aboriginal artifacts, packing them for travel, and treating them, including cleaning and repairs. I have worked with many community museums in Manitoba, advising on safe care and display of their Aboriginal artifacts. Also, I have taught the conservation course for the Association of Manitoba Museums, talking about the issues and problems with caring for Aboriginal collections, including ethical concerns. The participants of the course have been mostly non-Aboriginal, but also Aboriginal people involved in museums or cultural centres.

From your perspective, what are the most significant issues Symposium 2007 should address?
I hope that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage workers will see what they have in common. I think that the focus will not be on the past, which was dealt with by the Task Force on Aboriginal People and Museums, but on the present (what communities can do now to help preserve their cultural heritage objects) and on the future (training the young generation to be the best caretakers of these collections).

What do you hope Aboriginal people will get out of the Symposium?
I hope that some mistrust and barriers will be broken down; there is still sometimes an uneasy relationship between Aboriginal communities and heritage institutions. I hope we will learn more about how to deal with pesticide-contaminated collections. Also, I hope that many young people will be inspired to get involved and educated to be the future conservators of their heritage.

What do you hope conservators will get out of the Symposium?
More awareness of the Aboriginal point of view regarding objects, particularly sacred objects; a willingness to accept that in some cases conservators should not be involved; and some great contacts to work with in the future, as well as the latest information about research and treatments being undertaken all over the world.

How would you describe your experience as a member of the Advisory Committee for Symposium 2007?
It’s been a wonderful experience, very positive. The members of the Advisory Committee come from all across Canada, and have a wide range of life experience and knowledge. The circle process that was used in Advisory Committee meetings is very respectful and worked extremely well. I believe that all the members felt valued and heard during the process, and I feel strongly that the input from the Advisory Committee really has helped shape the content and format of the Symposium. I hope that our input will help make it more inclusive. Sharing our views and opinions during the meetings was also a learning experience for us; we certainly didn’t always have the same attitudes and views on everything! It was a great group. We’ve had fun, and we’re all looking forward to seeing each other at the Symposium in the fall.

Symposium 2007 will take place in Ottawa on September 24–28, 2007. For more information visit the Symposium 2007 section of this web site.

1. Clavir, M. Preserving What is Valued: Museums, Conservation and First Nations. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 2001.