UW-Milwaukee/MPM Museum Studies Program

08/21/2026

It's ! Explore open positions in the Midwest and beyond: https://bit.ly/ammjobs

08/18/2026

Today's guest blog post is courtesy of Kristin LaFollette, author of Rehumanizing People of the Past: Bioarchaeology, Medical Museums and Archives, and the Human Remains Trade, which is available in September.
tinyurl.com/mvmkewn6

08/14/2026

ANARCHISM, ANTHROPOLOGY AND POLITICAL IMAGINATION

With Nika Dubrovsky and Elizabete R Albernaz

August 21st.

08/08/2026

The comments on this news item are especially telling.

Nearly 1,300 Native American artifacts from the Olen Collection in Neenah are under review for compliance with federal law. See link below ⬇️

📸 Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

07/23/2026

🏛️ Job Announcement: Sr. Manager, Collections
📍 Location: Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur, Oklahoma
💼 Salary: Competitive
📅 Application Deadline: August 11

Are you passionate about preserving cultural heritage? Join the Chickasaw Cultural Center as Sr. Manager, Collections and lead the long-term care, preservation, and management of museum collections. You'll oversee collections care, develop policies, collaborate on exhibitions and conservation projects, and help ensure the stewardship of invaluable cultural resources.

Ideal candidates have experience in collections management, museum operations, object handling, conservation practices, and collection database systems, along with exceptional attention to detail and collaboration skills. Apply today and help preserve history for future generations!

Learn more on ATALM’s Job Board at: https://www.atalm.org/job-opportunities/

07/22/2026

The University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum of Anthropology has announced its intent to repatriate 17 sacred ceremonial belongings affiliated with the Navajo Nation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

According to a Federal Register notice published on July 22, 2026, the collection includes ceremonial hide rattles, a drum, prayer-plume holders, basket hats or crowns, curing dolls, dance equipment, a medicine pouch, and a Yei mask. Museum records indicate that some of these belongings were purchased, donated, or collected between the 1930s and 1970s.

After consultation, the museum determined that these items are sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony, meaning they remain important to the Navajo Nation’s continuing religious and cultural traditions and are not considered the property of any individual.

The notice also states that testing completed in June 2026 detected arsenic and lead in pigments on one ceremonial hide painting, reflecting historical museum preservation practices and the need for careful handling during the repatriation process.

Under NAGPRA, the notice begins the legal repatriation process. If no competing claims are received, repatriation may proceed on or after August 21, 2026. The notice does not confirm that the physical return has already taken place.

Returning sacred ceremonial belongings helps preserve living Indigenous traditions—what are your thoughts? 🪶



Sources:
• Federal Register — Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items, University of New Mexico Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.
• National Park Service — NAGPRA Program.
University of New Mexico – Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.