Increased collections accessibility benefits Native Americans because it

enhances their ability to learn about and carry on traditions. Collections have come into

use by indigenous groups as reference resources for reviving lost or waning traditional

arts (Simpson 1996). The well-known Northwest Coast artist, Bill Reid (Simpson 1996,

250), speaks to the relevance of museum collections for the revival of heritage

practices, "The museum (University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology) has

provided a training ground for native artists. I unlocked the secrets of traditional designs

by studying carefully the old carvings kept there." Moira Simpson (1996, 254) calls for

museums to "improve the physical accessibility of the collections and the storage of

data, in order to equip non-specialist visitors with the means to make better use of the

vast wealth of information that museums hold ... (it also) involves the evolution of the

methods of access which enable those who cannot physically visit the museum to

access the collections and databases from afar."

Solutions to a Contested Past: Building Trust through Inclusive Collections
   Practices

       NAGPRA's revision of museum collections practices has started to restore

Native Americans' confidence in the museum's role as collections steward. Today,

museums are assisting Native groups in regaining or strengthening their cultural

traditions by respecting requests for physical access to collections and by simplifying

information access through digitization of Native American collections records.

Accessible cultural information has the potential to instill pride in one's heritage, thus

encouraging cultural preservation. Secondly, museums have developed working

relationships with American Indian communities through the process of collections

consultation. This exchange of information informs the museum of Native preferences