Retelling the first peoples' stories [working with native american consultants, the springfield museums will create a more inclusive, accurate, and nonbiased interpretation of our native american…

The Springfield Museums Corporation received a $117,655 Project Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities under the Promotion of the Humanities Research program (CFDA 45.161) to update the interpretation of Native American history at its five museums in Springfield, Massachusetts. Working with local Native American tribes, the Museums will redesign its Native American hall to provide a more inclusive, accurate, and unbiased depiction of the innovations, resilience, and culture of the indigenous peoples who historically inhabited the region. The Museums will also develop new educational programming led by Native Americans to share their stories and traditions. The grant aims to promote a more equitable representation of Native Americans and foster improved public understanding of their role in the region's history. No subawards are associated with this Project Grant award.

Activities

The museum will update its native american hall with the help of the partnership IT forged with a council of native american peoples, particularly those representing local tribes of pocumtuc, agawam, nipmuc, and nonotuck and other eastern algonquian peoples. The museum will use a more positive language to describe the innovations that allowed the first peoples to thrive in the connecticut river valley, and the resilience that helped them survive even after european settlers arrived. The museum will incorporate a clearer and unbiased history of colonization and forced dispersal of the indigenous population. The museum will celebrate the current population of native peoples throughout the connecticut river & nbsp; valley, explore their culture through crafts, arts, religions, storytelling, and life-ways. The museum will add a native american led and informed educational programing to its schedule. The museum will adopt a more inclusive, accurate, and non-biased interpretation of its native american collection as a point of pride, wonder, and inspiration for all audiences.

Expected outcomes

A more honorable, diverse and equal representation of the indigenous population of the area will advocate a better informed audience and public humanities scholarship is the main expected outcome. Museum will become a better host of the artifacts IT holds in its collection and renew its mission.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of the grant are the general public, humanities scholars and enthusiasts, public humanities specialists, and the museum staff in particular.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.]