Co-creating the values of Indigenous museums in Taiwan

Abstract

While the values of museums and community participation have been extensively discussed, the taboos of participation these raise for Indigenisation of museums remain to be explored. This article examines two empirical cases of the Chi-Mei and Kamcing tribes to identify how biases resulting from conventional museology, nationalism mechanisms, and bureaucratic institutionalisation create multiple hindrances to participation. It also evaluates four forms of participation and proposes three steps to overcome the taboos hindering participation, highlighting how shared values drive participation. I propose the Indigenous Museum Values Framework (IMVF), which articulates the features of community-centric practices, embodied local knowledge, and collecting for the future through four modes: Gathering House, Marketplace, Ceremonial Field, and Lookout Tower. The findings suggest that museums’ value-based collaborations can empower communities and preserve traditions while providing space for different voices that support Indigenous people to tackle contemporary challenges.