Name: Why museums are returning cultural treasures
Uploaded: 2018-09-20T19:17:45Z
Duration: 12 min 52 s
Description: Archaeologist and curator Chip Colwell collects artifacts for his museum, but he also returns them to where they came from. In a thought-provoking talk, he shares how some museums are confronting their legacies of stealing spiritual objects and pillaging ancient graves -- and how they're bridging divides with communities who are demanding the return of their cultural treasures.

Chip Colwell: Why museums are returning cultural treasures

Why museums are returning cultural treasures

Archaeologist and curator Chip Colwell collects artifacts for his museum, but he also returns them to where they came from. In a thought-provoking talk, he shares how some museums are confronting their legacies of stealing spiritual objects and pillaging ancient graves -- and how they're bridging divides with communities who are demanding the return of their cultural treasures.

Museums around the world are reckoning with their legacies of collecting sacred and stolen objects, as communities demand the return of their cultural heritage. In the United States, over one million artifacts and 50,000 Native American skeletons have already been repatriated. One curator’s journey reveals how returning these objects fosters respect, trust, and even deeper connections with living cultures. This shift transforms museums from static temples of the past into spaces that honor dignity and shared humanity.