and contributions. Moira Simpson (1996, 169) highlights the strides NMAI has made in

the spirit of Native/ museum partnership: "The National Museum of the American Indian

is forging links with tribal museums, native organizations, and individuals throughout the

Americas. This strategy has been called 'the fourth museum' and will extend the

Museum's work beyond its (east coast) facilities, into communities across the country

and throughout the continent." Other museums can follow NMAI's lead in developing

meaningful partnerships for more empowering exhibitions of Native collections.

Partnership

      Over the past twenty years, museums have increased Native voices in the

design of exhibitions and sought to expand Native access to collections. This is a result

of the previously discussed American Indian protests and legal suits, as well as the

ideological shift of New Museology. The passing of NAGPRA was an impetus for

museums to begin engaging Native groups. The law required partnership despite

resistant museum staff, limited time and resources, or other hurdles to improving Native/

non-Native museum relations. Media coverage of Native protests and cultural critiques

in academia placed public pressure on museums to redefine their relationship to the

communities they represent in exhibitions. Indigenous outcry against exclusive

interpretation practices has urged museums to "ensure that the collections and activities

of museums address the needs of the communities who have given so much in the

past" (Simpson 1996, 248). Common methods of promoting community authorship in

museum exhibitions include consultation, advisory boards, guest curatorship, and

community exhibitions.