Discussion on the return of Sámi objects to Sámi museums
The Sámi objects that were returned from the National Museum of Finland to the Sámi Museum Siida in 2021 have been restored to their original environment in Sápmi. Other Sámi objects are still in museum collections, for example in Germany. What is the process of restitution? What is the impact of returning the objects to the communities they belong(ed) to and to their related environments? And how does restitution affect research, museums and the social debate on cultural heritage?
On the 21st of March from 5 to 7 pm (EET), we are hosting presentations and a discussion on the return of Sámi objects from museums around the world to Sámi museums, and cultural centers. This event will take place at the University of Helsinki, but can also be followed online. Part of the presentations will be in Finnish. A third presentation as well as the discussion will be in English and can be enriched by questions from the audience on-site and online.
Program:
Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen (University of Helsinki): Introduction (in Finnish)
Áile Aikio (University of Lapland): visual presentation and travelogue about her residency weeks in Helsinki, Sápmi, and Germany from October to December 2021 (in Finnish)
Barbara Plankensteiner (MARKK Museum Hamburg): current overview of colonial heritage and the restitution process of the German museum system (in English)
Panel discussion (in English/Finnish): Áile Aikio, Elina Anttila (National Museum of Finland), Lea Kantonen (University of the Arts Helsinki), Hanna Ellen Guttorm (University of Helsinki), Eeva-Kristiina Nylander (Sámi Museum Siida), Barbara Plankensteiner und Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen.
Questions from the audience (on-site and online)
Presentation: Reetta Toivanen (University of Helsinki)
Link to the livestream: https://tiedekulmamedia.helsinki.fi/fi/web/tiedekulma/player/webcast?playerId=99487739&eventId=157851112
The café will be open until the beginning of the event.