Graduation Year
2026
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Art History
Reader 1
Julia Lum
Reader 2
Bill Anthes
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
2026 Abigail E Kirkley
Abstract
This thesis compares how museums of differing institutional scale, the Benton Museum of Art (a college museum) and the Malki Museum (a tribal/community museum), ethically teach Native American belongings and history to K–12 audiences. Drawing on semi‑structured interviews, lesson‑plan analysis, and institutional documents, the study asks how educational programs translate museum commitments to consultation, stewardship, and Indigenous authority into classroom practice. Findings indicate that ethical museum education depends less on institutional resources than on sustained Indigenous partnerships, transparent provenance work, and community‑centered pedagogy; when these elements are present, educators can move beyond static displays to foster relational learning that recognizes Indigenous presence across time. The thesis provides actionable recommendations designed to help museums build sustained Indigenous partnerships, improve curricular practices, and ensure ethical use of cultural materials.
Recommended Citation
Kirkley, Abigail E., "Teaching Belongings: Ethical Museum Education for Native American Collections - Case Studies from the Malki Museum and Benton Museum of Art" (2026). Scripps Senior Theses. 2753.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/2753
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
