Cultural Exchange

Museums grew out the colonial tradition -- that is, colonial collectors came, purchased, traded, or took items from their colonies or other "exotic" places and returned home to display them. Museums today are a different place altogether - not only do they engage in ethical collection practices, but they also recognize that many of the treasures they hold in trust are emotionally and culturally dear to those whose ancestors gave them up.

The ECHO partners further understand that the collectors were often ignorant of the full import or story of the items they collected -- yet the knowledge has not been lost. By sponsoring visits from ECHO constituents whose ancestors used the items, the museums themselves gain invaluable knowledge. At the same time, the visiting culture-bearers reconnect with a vital part of their patrimony.

Jack Dalton, visiting Peabody Essex Museum, wrote, "There are very few times in my life, in this modern world, when I truly feel Yup'ik, when this identity of who I am goes further than a box I check on an application, goes deeper than the stories I tell as a professional performer. There have been few times in my life when being Yup'ik was something so filling, so encompassing, so complete, that it would fill me up a feeling I can only describe as 'What it must be like to know God is smiling at you.'"

Read his whole story.