Decolonising the Museum (11123.1)

This unit explores museums and collections and engages with issues of colonialism, neo-colonialism and decolonisation. It explores concepts, tools and methods that support Indigenous agency and control of the representation of Indigenous, Native American and First Nations people in museums and through cultural material. Concepts to be explored include forms of 'expertise' and cultural knowledge, community co-production, and repatriation. Students will critically analyse examples of the creative re-use and re-purposing of museums and collections by Indigenous, Native American and First Nations people. Students will also practically and ethically engage with the University of Canberra Indigenous Art and Artefact Collection and with other cultural institutions and collections.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the ethical issues surrounding the ways in which information about Indigenous people is framed in collections held by keeping institutions and repositories;
2. Identify and assess the ways in which the role of keeping institutions and repositories has changed over time;
3. Reflect on how keeping institutions and repositories and their collections can contribute to decolonising society; and
4. Apply culturally appropriate practices relating to Indigenous cultural issues and keeping institution and repositories contexts in working with cultural collections.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline

Prerequisites

11126 Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Corequisites

11122 Indigenous Cultures and Digital Contexts

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.