DEAI

Preamble

The staff at the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology acknowledge the long history of museums privileging White opinions and exoticizing Black and Brown people, voices, and materials and generally centering a heterosexual, gender dichotomous, able-audience. We acknowledge that museums are not neutral; education is not apolitical. Museums at large, and IUMAA in particular, should be accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive. IUMAA seeks to be a bridge between cultures and times, foster understanding, and celebrate diversity.

We can do better. We WILL do better. Below we have begun to identify issues and actionable steps we’ll take to improve. This list will evolve. We welcome feedback and concerns.

Institutional Systems

• Problem: Indiana University Policies relevant to racism and harassment are not specific to the IUMAA, and are likely unknown by staff and students
  • Action: Update IUMAA staff handbook to address policies relevant to racism, sexual harassment, and bias reporting
  • Action: Specifically identify race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, age, and ability discrimination in IUMAA policies and handbook
  • Action: Send email to full-time staff when IUMAA policies are updated, highlighting what has been changed and why

• Problem: Lack of transparency regarding the Museum's inclusion efforts outside of the institution
  • Action: Create online webpage/dashboard to document DEAI efforts publicly
  • Action: Use webpage/dashboard to publicly announce collection accessioning/deaccessioning/weeding to make collections movements transparent
  • Action: Post institutional language-use choices publicly and explicitly, example:

Statement on “Prehistory” and “Pre-Columbian”
IUMAA has a special obligation to ensure that cultures are respected, valued, and protected. We face the challenges inherent in understanding and evaluating ideas and assertions, including those around language. Though still in common use within anthropological, history and art history contexts, particular terms like “prehistory” and “pre-Columbian” indicate a silencing of Indigenous histories and voices. These terms disregard the sovereignty of Native nations, set Native history apart from colonial history, and signal that Native exists as precursor to something greater. By using “pre-contact” instead of “pre-Columbian” we reframe the narrative to celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples rather than glorify those who have caused genocide of entire populations.

• Problem: Lack of skills and tools to address bias/prejudice/racism institutionally and personally
  • Action: Host mandatory staff trainings and workshops facilitated by professionals on a yearly basis
  • Action: Compile bias/prejudice/racism resources and share via OneDrive/Sharepoint for internal staff to allow for individual review; reevaluate yearly
  • Action: Regularly engage in formal and informal group discussions at various levels of IUMAA: amongst staff, within administration, with advisory council, and individually
  • Action: Regularly engage in formal and informal discussion with diverse members of the University and community

• Problem: Lack of diversity amongst staff, support staff, and student workers in our museum and the museum field more broadly
  • Action: Improve IUMAA recruitment activities by communicating with and creating relationships with new departments while expanding our work with current partner departments
  • Action: Work with Native partners to encourage Indigenous people outside of Bloomington to people to apply for internships, workshops, and employment when opportunities arise
  • Action: Reach out to IU Programs such as 21^st Century Scholars and McNair Scholars to attract first generation college students
  • Action: Offer more paid opportunities for students
  • Action: Recruit and prepare students for museum leadership/governance opportunities by maintaining a student advisory committee

• Problem: Digital content has not focused on disability access
  • Action: Develop IUMAA policies for posting digital content online to ensure information is accessible to people of all abilities
  • Action: Ensure social media guidelines include accessibility emphasis by not posting images without alternative text description, thus ensuring access to screen readers
  • Action: Ensure all video content contains at least English-language captions

Collections (Archaeological, Ethnohistorical, Reading Room)

• Problem: Inherent questions about collections acquisition
  • Action: Publicly describe methods of acquisition and legal and ethical concerns for holdings to maintain transparency
  • Action: Ensure the Archaeological Management Plan is made publicly available
  • Action: Pledge to diversify Reading Room collections by collecting more BIPOC authors in library

• Problem: Institution holds multiple collections comprising Native American or Native Alaskan ancestral objects and human remains
  • Action: Continue working with IU NAGPRA to repatriate ancestors, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony
  • Action: Pursue other means of material return outside of NAGPRA; could include sharing digital assets or by writing MOUs with descendent communities for curation rights
  • Action: Work directly with descendant communities to address outstanding issues with collections
  • Action: Actively involve descendant communities in decisions related to curation and study of collections that remain in our facility

• Problem: Institution holds multiple collections comprising objects sacred or otherwise important to Indigenous peoples outside of the United States
  • Action: Identify collections with funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony
  • Action: Contact Indigenous communities and invite an active involvement in decisions related to curation and study of collections that remain in our facility

• Problem: Cataloging and collection description concerns (racist descriptions and titles, Western nomenclature and organization)
  • Action: Audit collections, document issues, and update accordingly
  • Action: Work towards creating or using Traditional Knowledge (TK) labels or other sensitivity markers
  • Action: Write guidelines for addressing records with a mind towards a future online catalog; give contextualization without erasing previous work
  • Action: Write internal glossary of outdated terms and their current, accepted counterparts

Exhibitions

• Problem: Building entrance doesn’t indicate museum as safe, welcoming space
  • Action: Place sign at museum entrance indicating our position (Example: “We as an institution are actively working toward making the space safer and more inclusive to everyone.”)

• Problem: Exhibitions organized and directed to white, American audiences
  • Action: Increase collaboration and participation in exhibit development by culturally affiliated representatives; compensate and credit these individuals
  • Action: Work to present text in multiple languages and/or new syntaxes

• Problem: Exhibitions not organized and directed to audiences with disabilities
  • Action: Explore more accessible means of experiencing exhibits for those with physical disabilities
  • Action: Explore more accessible means of experiencing exhibits for those with social and learning disabilities

• Problem: Exhibitions present one perspective typically with little opportunity for other voices
  • Action: Invite and welcome criticism through vehicles such as “Feedback Fridays,” an open-floor event for community members to discuss ideas and thoughts with museum staff
  • Action: Develop exhibits that center BIPOC voices, knowledge, and perspectives
  • Action: Develop exhibits that center multiple genders
  • Action: Develop exhibits that center multiple physical abilities

Research

• Problem: Fieldwork opportunities have only supported able-bodied people
  • Action: When the Museum sponsors fieldwork, archaeological or ethnographic, we will make every effort for that field work to be physically accessible to everyone

Programs

• Problem: Minimal engagement, collaboration, and representation of wide range of audiences
  • Action: Re-visit notion of forming Student Advisory Council
    • Student Advisory Council established Fall 2021
  • Action: Review hosts for introducing speakers to be more inclusive
  • Action: Increase contact and collaboration with area studies, cultural centers, other relevant departments and organizations
  • Action: Recruit docents from culturally affiliated groups for tours
  • Action: Sponsor/support/contribute to IU’s Annual Traditional Powwow
  • Action: Ensure virtual registration includes gendered and non-gendered titles
  • Action: Share BIPOC and other diverse authors and researchers via blog or monthly web post

• Problem: In-person programs cater to only hearing-able audiences
  • Action: Hire and utilize ASL signers during live programs without being prompted by visitors
    • Sub-action: Seek funding to hire ASL signers for events
  • Action: Work to present text in multiple languages and/or new syntaxes

Personal

• Problem: Staff members unaware of personal biases and privileges
  • Action: Participate in workshops and trainings
  • Action: Encourage self-reflection
  • Action: Encourage listing of pronouns in email signature, use of pronoun buttons