In September 2009, twenty-one members of the Haida Nation went to Oxford and London to work with several hundred heritage treasures at the Pitt Rivers Museum and the British Museum. The encounter set a new course for the relationships between the custodians of these cultural artifacts and the Indigenous people for whom the objects are a direct link to their past. Emotional and illuminating, tense and challenging, it was a transformative visit that none would soon forget.

Featuring contributions from Haida and museum participants and a rich selection of illustrations, This Is Our Life details the remarkable story of the Haida Project. A fascinating look at the meaning behind objects, the value of repatriation, and the impact of historical trajectories like colonialism, this is also a tender story of the understanding that grew between the Haida visitors and museum staff.

Beautifully written and illustrated, This Is Our Life offers a compelling view of the transformative potential of a conversation hundreds of years in the making.

This is the story of a transformative visit by members of the Haida Nation to the museums housing their cultural treasures.

About the Author
Cara Krmpotich is an assistant professor in the Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto. Laura Peers is a curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum and a reader in material anthropology in the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford.

Reviews
This inspirational book offers a fascinating ethnography .., The innovative multivocal presentation incorporates a range of opinions and emotions expressed by named curators, conservators, researchers, Elders, cultural descendants, and artists. The authors demonstrate the historical richness of museum collections and highlight their potential for community revitalization and cross-cultural understanding. -- Anita Herle, Senior Curator for Anthropology, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge

This book offers honest insight into the logistics, dilemmas, anxieties, anger, and joy, which combined for a "bittersweet" experience for museum professionals and the Haida through the six months' preparations and during the three-week visit.

-- Gillian Crowther * BC Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9780774825412
Author Cara Krmpotich
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint University of British Columbia Press
Publisher University of British Columbia Press
Weight(grams) 450g