2025 Poster Session

In June 2024, several dozen 20th century Hopi objects made the unlikely journey from Wesleyan University, Connecticut to Moenkopi, Arizona for a week-long visit. It was unlikely because it was not an exhibit, loan, or repatriation request– rather, it was a “re-imagined” collections research visit, coordinated in collaboration with Patty Talahongva, a Hopi woman who had recently discovered that her great-great grandmother’s pottery was in Wesleyan’s collections. 

Talahongva’s request challenged Wesleyan to reconfigure the temporal and spatial conventions of museum collections access. Rather than requiring members of the community to come to the repository, the repository went to Hopi. Rather than work out the logistics for 2-3 years (as would be typical for a traveling exhibit), the planning and execution of this event took place in less than 12 months - one reason for the urgency was the age of the descendants of the artists, many of whom are in their 80s and 90s. For three days, Hopi community members, direct descendants of the objects’ creators, and members of the general public were able to engage directly and meaningfully with works of pottery, basketry, katsina dolls, and textiles. During our event grandparents were able to share this experience with their grandchildren and even some great grandchildren. While unorthodox from a museum perspective, Talahongva’s vision aligned with the Wesleyan Library’s desire to embody more inclusive models for access, to think more expansively about modes of “preservation,” and to consider the importance of contemporary cultural connections in care regimes. 

By centering contemporary Hopi families and Hopi lands in the request for collections access, the Tuma Angwu Owya (“Let’s Go Home for a Visit”) project lays the groundwork for more inclusive, responsive, and culturally informed models of stewardship and collections care. This presentation will provide context for the original collection, the factors motivating Talahongva’s initial request, and the triumphs and challenges of planning such an innovative and unconventional event, from the perspective of both community partners and collections staff. We will also discuss the ripple effects of the project on the repository and the Hopi community over a year later and thoughts on the viability of this model for other museums.