Central Yup'ik masks in the Vatican Museums; indigenous American heritage in European museums

Abstract

ABSTRACT An exploration of conservation and curatorial practices surrounding Indigenous American heritage in European museums began with an American Academy in Rome Prize fellowship which served to reconnect three of the co-authors. The stunning discovery of seven Yup’ik masks from western Alaska at the Vatican Museums led two of the co-authors to connect with Chuna McIntyre, a Yup’ik artist and performer. In an effort to pilot a collaborative process where conservators and curators might have their technical and cultural understanding of these masks enhanced, a three-hour virtual meeting was arranged after the masks were documented and the images and information shared. The successes and challenges are presented here from various viewpoints.