Representatives from various Indian tribes such as the Hoopa, San Manuel, Yurok, Miwok, Shoshone and Hopi as well as the California Native American Heritage Commission. Museum officials from the Alaska State Museum, the Canadian Conservation Institute, George Washington University, the Oakland Museum, the Arizona State Museum, and others. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Poison Control and other groups. Museums and Indians nationwide face the dilemma of how to handle tribal materials found to have been treated with hazardous chemicals, including various pesticides and toxins designed to help preserve the precious items and kill insects, rodents and mold. At this time there is no known way to remove the poisons, but there are methods to test for their presence.
Conference ends at noon that day.
Catharine Hawkes, adjunct professor at George Washington University. A report on testing at Arizona State Museum. Nancy Odegarrd, head conservator at the Arizona State Museum. The Hopi Tribe's experience with chemical contamination of repatriated materials. Leigh Kuwaniwisiwma, director of cultural office of Hopi Tribe.