1. Ethics, Laws and Sacred Objects

2. What are ethics to you? What does it mean to be ethical?
“Ethics are based on experience and concern the distinction between right and wrong, and how that distinction is applied to language, behavior and thought. Ethical codes evolve in response to changing conditions, values and ideas. That is why professional codes are reviewed and revised periodically”
Simmons, Page 147.
To be ethical means to do the right thing, which means following laws and current codes.

3. How do ethics apply to the museum world?
Ethics are the backbone of a museum’s collection management policy
Ethics require the museum to do more than only following current laws
Museums need to also be concerned with the appearance of wrong doing
Transparency and Accountability
All objects have been ethically obtained

4. What are the three types of ethical codes related to museums?
Professional Codes
Specific Profession Codes
Institutional Codes

5. What are some laws or codes that address the acquisition of objects?
National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAI)
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD)
2008 Guidelines

6. How can a museum ensure its staff, volunteers, and board members act ethically?
Conflicts of Interest
Must put organization’s interests above their own personal interests
Personal Collecting
May be prohibited from collecting objects related to their organization’s scope of interest
If not, may have to submit inventories of personal collection
Use of Personal Collection
Museum needs to have clear policies on the use of personal collections within the museum
Cannot store personal collections

7. Acting Ethically Deaccessioned Collections
Cannot acquire deaccessioned objects, unless they participate in a public auction
Appraisals and Authentication
Cannot be conducted by members of the museum
Personal Activities:
If working outside museum, staff should conduct themselves to respect positively on the museum and the museum profession.
Should also identify themselves as working apart from the museum

8. What are a museum registrar’s responsibilities?
Overseeing all management and care processes, acquisitions and deaccessions
Ensuring acquisitions have followed ethical standards and procedures
Both law and codes by overarching authorities
Addressing questionable situations

9. Why is it important for a museum to have good relationships with traditional communities?
Ensures community’s objects are properly cared for
Preservation and meaning of object
Staff can better understand and appreciate object
A respectful and knowledgeable interpretation
Encourages public trust

10. Who should a museum turn to decide if an object is sacred?
Turn to representatives of the group or community
If not available, a legitimate and respected authority
Should not take it upon themselves to decide

11. When a museum has sacred objects, what are considerations that ensure their meaning is respected?
Consultation
Initiate contact to consult with the group on objects under the care of the museum
Access
Limiting object information and access to protect the objects sacredness
Care Protocols
Any specific care considerations to maintain the object in its current form
Repatriation
Reviewing, and sometimes honoring, requests for the return of the object

12. Test your Knowledge! Scenario 1:
An intern is going through object records and finds documents from a donor saying that an object was acquired at a reservation. The intern points this out to the registrar, who is suspicious that the object might have sacred value to Native American people. As the registrar, what are the next steps you would take to address this concern?
Conduct research on donor, object and Native American group
Contact a representative of, or a legitimate source on, the group in question to decide whether object is sacred
If found to be sacred: consult, access, care, repatriation

13. Test your Knowledge! Scenario 2:
When looking at object records, you notice the provenance of a piece is not well established, and the description of the object reminds you of one of a reportedly stolen item. What would you do in this situation?