A Time For Gathering Analysis

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is a conventional museum that has a blemished history with Native American communities. Located on the campus of the University of Washington, it is the oldest museum in the state. The Burke was opened in 1899 and serves as the official museum of the state of Washington. Visitors to the ‘About’ page of the museum website are greeted with an assertion that “the Burke recognizes that the museum sits on traditional indigenous lands. The Burke holds deep respect for Indigenous knowledge, and is dedicated to collaborating with diverse Native populations, sharing collections and learning together.” Despite this positive rhetoric, the Burke has been at the center of controversy and debate regarding Native

The 1989 exhibition ‘A Time For Gathering: Native Heritage in Washington State’ marked a turning point in the Burke’s relationship with local tribes. Thirty five tribes were consulted and the formation of a Native Advisory board gave tribal members agency to determine how their histories, stories and cultures would be presented and displayed. However, it must be noted that ‘A Time For Gathering’ displayed various indigenous objects on loan from overseas institutions that were not repatriated to tribal communities after use. Native Americans are often portrayed in historical, rather than contemporary contexts.The exhibition gave “serious attention to contemporary native voices,” challenging the narrative of Native Americans as a dying race. From the early days of collecting Native art and objects, an emphasis was placed on the importance of traditional items as the most authentic. Contemporary art was often ignored by early collectors and the belief that Native American cultures were ‘dying out’ resulted in an ‘urgency’ in collecting. The Burke’s emphasis on the contemporary through inclusion and collaboration with local tribes served to challenge the preconceived notions that are held towards Native communities. The 1997 permanent exhibition Pacific Voices saw Burke museum staff make a “conscious decision to abandon the notion that museum curatorial authority is absolute,” instead relying on consultation with communities to create an ambitious exhibit that uses indigenous voices to tell their own histories, empowering themselves in the process. Today, the Burke continues a process of consultation with indigenous staff members, the Native American advisory board and holds permanent and temporary exhibitions presenting indigenous history and culture built from partnerships with indigenous