Oaxaca 2011

Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge One Story at a Time

Sven Haakanson Jr.

For the past decade the Alutiiq Museum has been involved in innovative and collaborative work to repatriate traditional knowledge from collections scattered across the world and locally. Through exchanges, exhibitions and collaboration on catalogues they have built relations that go beyond what is expected of a museums role within a community. In 2008 they worked with the Chateau Musée in Boulongne-sur-Mer, France to bring an international and collaborative exhibition to Kodiak, Alaska to share traditional masks collected from their region in 1872. From 2006-2011 they supported the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography on creating a catalogue on Alutiiq material culture collected between 1784-1909 and took five grass basket weavers in 2010 to see their collections. How are they doing this and why? Repatriation of knowledge and building mutual trust between institutions is important. They have reversed the flow of knowledge so that it is owned by the community and not just the collectors or museums. The result from this work has helped to reestablish traditional knowledge within the community once again. They are building a foundation of exchanges that are going beyond one generation but into the next as they weave ties of cultural knowledge across the world.

One-day workshop

Instructors: Luisa Jiménez, weaver from Laguna Chicahuaxtla, Triqui group, Moisés Martínez, weaver from San Pedro Cajonos, Zapotec group – Northern mountains, Abigail Mendoza, weaver from Santo Tomás Jalieza, Zapotec group – Central Valleys

Demonstration and elaboration of back-strap loom weavings with different techniques employed in the state of Oaxaca.

One-day workshop

Instructors: Fausto Contreras and Mariano Sosa, weavers and dyers from Teotitlán del Valle, Zapotec group – Central Valleys

Wool dyeing with cochineal, indigo and wild marigold following the ongoing tradition from the community of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca.

Two-day workshop

Instructors: Arturo León, Sculptor and Professor – Conservation Program, National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museography “Manuel del Castillo Negrete” (ENCRyM), Lilia Ramírez, M.A. and Professor – Conservation Program, ENCRyM, Lorena Román, Conservator and Professor – Conservation Program, ENCRyM

Demonstration and elaboration of a feather mosaic according to the technique found in a 16th c. mosaic that belongs to the collections of the National Viceroyalty Museum, INAH.

One-day workshop

Instructor: Alejandro de Ávila, Director of the Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden and Curator of the Textile Museum of Oaxaca

Presentation of a basic overview of ongoing changes in the biological taxonomy of species of interest to textile conservators.  Examination of live specimens of several of such species at the Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden.  Focus on plant fibers and dyes, including vegetal adhesives and soaps used traditionally in textile processes.

One-day workshop

Instructor: Richard Wolbers, Associate Professor – Art Conservation Program, University of Delaware/Winterthur Museum

Part I will cover general principles of wet-cleaning.  Participants will need an understanding of basic chemical principles to gain the maximum benefit from the material presented.

One-day workshop

Instructor: Richard Wolbers, Associate Professor – Art Conservation Program, University of Delaware/Winterthur Museum

Part II will cover more advanced topics in aqueous cleaning such as bleaching, enzymes, poultices and "spotting". Participants who have taken Richard Wolber's workshops at previous NATCC conferences can sign up for the 2nd day only if they wish.  Participants will need an understanding of basic chemical principles to gain the maximum benefit from the material presented.