Paving a Way Forward: Current and Future Approaches to Restitution
Channel: UCLA Library
Date: 2022-06-13

May 19, 2022 | Final session of "Contested Collections: Grappling With History and Forging Pathways for Repatriation," a virtual symposium hosted by the UCLA Library's International and Area Studies Department: https://bit.ly/uclal-symposium.

Due to colonialism and looting, many Western cultural heritage institutions have numerous items in their collections that belong to other countries and communities. What can be done to amend the status quo? This session provided examples of current policies and processes of governments, institutions, and individuals related to the repatriation of cultural objects. Panelists discussed the challenges of and opportunities for decolonizing libraries, archives, and museums, including the importance of reparative and cooperative practices.

Speakers (in order of appearance):

– Leila Amineddoleh, Founding Partner, Amineddoleh & Associates, LLC; Adjunct Professor of Law, New York University

– Damien Webb (Palawa), Manager, Indigenous Engagement Branch, State Library of New South Wales

– Khadija von Zinnenburg Carroll, Professor, Central European University - Vienna

– Moderator: T-Kay Sangwand, Librarian for Digital Collection Development, UCLA Library