Toward Culturally Responsive Interpretation: Four Essential Elements for Interpreting Native American Cultures at Heritage Sites.
Saved in:
| Title: | Toward Culturally Responsive Interpretation: Four Essential Elements for Interpreting Native American Cultures at Heritage Sites. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Fitzsimmons, Carol1 (AUTHOR), Rogers, Ajena Cason1 (AUTHOR) arkzk@umsystem.edu |
| Source: | Journal of Interpretation Research. Apr2026, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p121-151. 31p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Cultural maintenance, *Traditional knowledge, Indigenous peoples, Museum techniques, Cross-cultural studies, Organizational accountability, Indigenous ethnic identity |
| Geographic Terms: | Bend (Or.) |
| Abstract: | Many non-Native institutions—such as national parks, museums, and historic sites—struggle to interpret Indigenous cultures in culturally responsive ways. This qualitative study examined promising practices at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. Through onsite observations, interviews with staff, volunteers, partners, subject matter experts, Indigenous knowledge holders, and visitors, as well as an analysis of exhibitions and materials, we identified several culturally responsive approaches to interpreting Indigenous Plateau stories and cultures. Key practices included: maintaining ongoing readiness and reflection, fostering relational accountability with Indigenous partners, honoring and caring for Indigenous stories, and centering Indigenous worldviews. Together, these efforts advanced the museum toward a culturally sustaining model—recalibrating collections, celebrating Indigenous resilience, and building strong Native–non-Native partnerships. Based on these findings, we developed a Model for Culturally Responsive Interpretation to guide non-Native professionals in building and sustaining relationships with Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Interpretation Research is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193138812 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Toward Culturally Responsive Interpretation: Four Essential Elements for Interpreting Native American Cultures at Heritage Sites. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fitzsimmons%2C+Carol%22">Fitzsimmons, Carol</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rogers%2C+Ajena+Cason%22">Rogers, Ajena Cason</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> arkzk@umsystem.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Interpretation+Research%22">Journal of Interpretation Research</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p121-151. 31p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+maintenance%22">Cultural maintenance</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Traditional+knowledge%22">Traditional knowledge</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indigenous+peoples%22">Indigenous peoples</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Museum+techniques%22">Museum techniques</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cross-cultural+studies%22">Cross-cultural studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+accountability%22">Organizational accountability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indigenous+ethnic+identity%22">Indigenous ethnic identity</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bend+%28Or%2E%29%22">Bend (Or.)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Many non-Native institutions—such as national parks, museums, and historic sites—struggle to interpret Indigenous cultures in culturally responsive ways. This qualitative study examined promising practices at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. Through onsite observations, interviews with staff, volunteers, partners, subject matter experts, Indigenous knowledge holders, and visitors, as well as an analysis of exhibitions and materials, we identified several culturally responsive approaches to interpreting Indigenous Plateau stories and cultures. Key practices included: maintaining ongoing readiness and reflection, fostering relational accountability with Indigenous partners, honoring and caring for Indigenous stories, and centering Indigenous worldviews. Together, these efforts advanced the museum toward a culturally sustaining model—recalibrating collections, celebrating Indigenous resilience, and building strong Native–non-Native partnerships. Based on these findings, we developed a Model for Culturally Responsive Interpretation to guide non-Native professionals in building and sustaining relationships with Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Interpretation Research is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=193138812 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/10925872261435577 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 31 StartPage: 121 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Cultural maintenance Type: general – SubjectFull: Traditional knowledge Type: general – SubjectFull: Indigenous peoples Type: general – SubjectFull: Museum techniques Type: general – SubjectFull: Cross-cultural studies Type: general – SubjectFull: Organizational accountability Type: general – SubjectFull: Indigenous ethnic identity Type: general – SubjectFull: Bend (Or.) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Toward Culturally Responsive Interpretation: Four Essential Elements for Interpreting Native American Cultures at Heritage Sites. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fitzsimmons, Carol – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rogers, Ajena Cason IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10925872 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 31 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Interpretation Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
