by Ross Nervig Communications Officer Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre

In July of last year, a group of conservators from the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) traveled to Mi’kma’kik for a unique and transformative experience. Their visit was part of the ongoing collaborative effort between NMAI and Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) to strengthen the stewardship of Mi’kmaw cultural belongings and lay the foundation for their eventual return. This shared stewardship initiative is not only about preserving and protecting Mi’kmaw heritage but also about building deeper relationships between the institutions, the people, and the land.

The group of conservators, including Caitlin Mahony, Céline Wachsmuth, Sydney Collins, and Assistant Director of Collections Rachel Shabica, spent the week immersing themselves in Mi’kmaw culture. Their visit marked a pivotal moment in the collaboration between NMAI and MDCC, as they sought to gain a better understanding of the context and significance of the Mi’kmaw cultural belongings they care for at NMAI. These objects, such as baskets, beadwork, and quillwork, have been housed at NMAI for decades, but the visit helped the conservators reconnect these items to their origins and cultural context.

Gaining Context: Connecting Objects to Place
The conservators’ intention was to gain a deeper contextual knowledge of the Mi’kmaw cultural belongings in the NMAI collection. Caitlin Mahony, an objects conservator, shares her thoughts on the importa ...

 

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