decade, the museum's increasing ability to share collections information in faster and

more comprehensive formats empowers both Native and non-Native members of the

public with more accessible information on Native collections. The development of

online collections access is essential for museums that wish to increase agency for

American Indians and remain relevant in a "tech-paced" society. Digitization is not a

process that can be executed overnight, but asset management systems and networks,

in addition to emerging software and freeware, such as wikis, are making it more

possible than ever to securely format collections information for public online

consumption. Museums have the opportunity to offer Native American communities

digital tools for researching and representing their cultural heritage. This expanded

collections accessibility also fosters cultural continuance in the face of historical

adversity.

       There is a particular need for Native American communities to gain the ability to

locate tangible pieces of their collective past, which have been scattered across the

U.S. in museum holdings and private collections. Despite the increased collections

accessibility initiated by NAGPRA, American Indian groups may continue to face

difficulty if they wish to research objects that fall outside of the NAGPRA categories.

The need to visit multiple museum sites to study artifacts from one's own heritage may

deter many American Indians from seeking access to this information. However, the

increase in development of online collections databases may ease this challenge for

Native communities. Online collections offer the opportunity for Native American

communities to conveniently browse through the objects to research which institutions

hold historic objects related to their heritage.