Located in Vermont’s Lake Champlain Valley, Shelburne Museum is the largest art and history museum in northern New England and a foremost public resource for visual art and material culture. Its 45-acre campus comprises 39 buildings, 25 of which are historic and were relocated to the Museum.
A new building will be constructed in 2025, devoted to the exhibition and stewardship of the Perry Collection, over 200 Native American masterworks predominately from Plains, Prairie, and Southwest peoples, adding to the Native American materials already stewarded by Shelburne Museum. The Perry Center represents a significant initiative to collaborate with Indigenous nations, scholars and culture bearers to present a model of stewardship for Indigenous creative culture and presentation to a broader audience.
Designed by Annum Architects of Boston in collaboration with Two Row Architects of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Canada, the 11,000 sf building, its siting, and landscape are referential to traditional Native American structures. The design process has been informed and guided by input from representatives of the local Abenaki Nation and from other Tribal members nation-wide who participated in a series of pre-design Talking Circles.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the ethical and legal considerations when working with Native American collections, including NAGPRA guidelines, and demonstrate an understanding of culturally sensitive preservation techniques and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
- Explain the importance of effective communication and participatory decision-making with a variety of stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, and apply strategies for fostering long-term, respectful partnerships and resolving conflicts.
- Explain how to collaborate with Indigenous knowledge holders to develop accurate and respectful cultural interpretations, avoiding appropriation, and will demonstrate the ability to integrate Indigenous storytelling into design practices.
- Assess how Indigenous cultural values, environmental stewardship, and respect for traditional lands can be integrated into campus and site development, and propose strategies for creating inclusive community spaces that honor Indigenous traditions.
