Denver Museum of Nature & Science Closing Problematic Exhibit

Since the 1970s, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has housed an exhibit known as the North American Indian Cultures Hall, or the NAIC Hall.

In a press release put out on May 18, the Mmuseum has announced that this exhibit will be closing by early June. The existence of this exhibit is problematic for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it has been continuously known as the “Indian” Cultures Hall. “Indian” is a misnomer and can be offensive to Indigenous populations, whereas “Native American” would typically be more suitable and respectful, or a term like “indigenous” or simply “native.” Indigenous people deserve to feel seen and not encroached upon by an exhibit that displays potentially incorrect information.

Fortunately, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science seems to be addressing this topic with sincerity and an apologetic nature, wanting to right the wrongs they have caused. The healing statement, accessible here, mentions that the “museum staff and Indigenous community partners are working to respectfully close this Hall and to reimagine exhibition, curation, collecting, programming, and conservation practices with respect to Indigenous cultural histories, heritage, and belongings.”

With the awareness of problematic practices in conservation, a topic that is not new in the museum world, comes room for reflection. The closing of this Hall is an important step in the recognition and respect which are long overdue for Indigenous peoples. A post on the museum’s Instagram page reads the following:

“The human dioramas depict Indigenous cultures as if they only exist in the past. In doing so, we fail to highlight the historical and lived experiences of Indigenous people. Presenting Indigenous communities as objects of study, rather than living and vibrant cultures, perpetuates a long history of erasing the experience of Indigenous people.”

Photo courtesy of the Museum’s Twitter