Since the 19th century, the inhabitants of the Atacama Desert, northern Chile have coexisted with collecting, heritage and museum practices. Since the late twentieth century, Atacama communities have confronted archaeology and museums over the significance, ownership and rights over the bodies of their ancestors that were taken to national and international museums. The indigenous demands for a respectful treatment of human bodies in Chile show the need for a repatriation law and new professional codes of ethics. Patricia Ayala, Ph.D. in Anthropology, will present the progress of a research project focused on collecting, patrimonialization and repatriation in the Atacameño territory.

Hearing about her repatriation work with the Atacameño people will add some really interesting and important context to the work being done with tribal nations here in the United States.

This presentation is free of charge and can be attended in-person or virtually.

About the Presenter

Patricia Ayala, Ph.D. in Anthropology, works as an academic in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chile in South America. From collaborative, indigenous and decolonial archaeologies, her current research is focused on the processes of patrimonialization, repatriation and reburial of human bodies and indigenous collections. Her most outstanding books are: Políticas del Pasado: Indígenas, Arqueólogos y Estado en Atacama (2009 and 2018), Indigenous People and Archaeology in Latin America, co-edited with Cristobal Gnecco (2010 and 2012) and the book El regreso de los ancestros: movimientos indígenas de repatriación y redignificación de los cuerpos, co-edited with Jacinta Arthur (2020).

This program is part of the Wilson Museum’s program series Connecting to Collections: Curiosity, Culture, Climate made possible through the generous support of Bangor Savings Bank.