Preserving Value, Enabling Continuity – Cultural Heritage Conservation and Co-curation with Indigenous Source Communities in a Contemporary Cultural Context

Abstract: Conservation is part of a large historical and contemporary context in which cultural heritage is made. Cultural heritage preservation includes a multifaceted field including museology, archaeology, and social studies, amongst others. The research for this thesis is based in the segment of objects conservation traditionally called ethnographic conservation. Tangible objects are one of the significant evidences of past times and events, around which institutions and research has evolved. These objects have been de-contextualised and resides in collections with very little of their intangible values intact. For the objects to remain relevant they need be allowed to participate in people’s lives and current debates. They need to have meaning added to their biography and to be allowed cultural continuity. The conservator’s role in this context is profound and generally undefined, nationally and internationally. There is need to acknowledge the impact of conservation actions and the adhering responsibilities. Through a minor survey along with a comparison of cultural heritage management, including conservation, regarding the Sámi and Māori cultural heritage I have explored the underlaying postcolonial structure, still affecting how these collections are perceived and managed today. The survey was based on a formalised questionnaire which was sent out to eight institutions housing Sámi objects collections. It included three national museums, two regional museums, two self-governed museums and one Sámi governed museum. The responses affirmed the findings of the literature review, that there is lack of positioning and structure in Swedish cultural heritage management regarding the Sámi cultural heritage, Sámi objects and potential Sámi claims. The reluctance to define and acknowledge the Sámi community, to grant a higher degree of self-determination has been noted on all levels of Swedish political and cultural structure. As remedial conservation, predominantly, has become more of a commodity there is a risk that these adaptions within conservation towards the contemporary context of a free market system moves the profession further away from the core objectives, preservation of value and significance. A defined national ethical position among conservators I feel would strengthen the sector and enable a more open and including practice. The profession need to revisit core questions like for whom we conserve, what is the purpose and our contribution to the underlaying structures involving cultural heritage making and whose voice is being heard. This research is exploring the contemporary challenges of cultural heritage preservation. The literature review and presented cases in section 6 shows that there is an alternative way to look at cultural heritage and the role of conservation.