CHEROKEE, N.C. — November is Native American Heritage Month, and at the Museum of the Cherokee People in western North Carolina, visitors can experience Cherokee history and culture. However, it was recently discovered culturally sensitive items were on display.
WCNC Charlotte’s Sarah French took a trip up to Cherokee, North Carolina, to learn more about how the museum responded with the help of Cherokee artists.
"We have a responsibility to our community to make sure that we're not doing anything that doesn't align with our Cherokee protocol," executive director Shana Bushyhead Condill said.
Founded in 1948, the Museum of the Cherokee People is one of the oldest tribal museums in the country.
"It was urgent," Condill said.
She said the museum recently had to pull several objects from display.
"We realized we had ceremonial and funerary objects that should not be on view," Condill said. "We took about 117 objects off view. At that time, what do we do with those empty cases?"
The current exhibit at the museum, called "Disruption," was just what its name suggests.
"That became a learning opportunity," Condill explained.
The museum's education director, Dakota Brown, advocated for Cherokee artists to step in.
"It's not always an easy story to tell... it's not always just black and white," Brown told French, adding, "We’re not descendants of -- we are Cherokee people."
Cherokee artists responded with contemporary art that can now be seen throughout the museum.
"We’re still writing our story, and we’re still telling our story," Brown explained.
"People don't have a clear idea of what contemporary Cherokee people are today," Condill added.
The museum is now working to raise awareness of a group of people who haven’t always had their voices heard.
"I'll tell you in the museum world, you know, we were sort of 20 years ago saying, 'Hey, what if you ask native people to be at the table when you're doing an exhibit about native people?' That was the question that we were asking 20 years ago," Condill explained. "And today, we have the honor and privilege of doing it ourselves ... This is going to be in our own voice, which is so incredibly powerful that we moved that far in the museum world in 20 years. I love it."
"Disruption" is on display until Dec. 29. The museum is also gearing up for a brand-new renovation. They’re open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact Sarah French at Sarah@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.