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Ethics Q&A: Ethnography 1
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July 2000
Our collection contains a quiver of 100 poison hunting darts brought back from South America in the 19th century by an English explorer.
Although we know which particular indigenous people they belonged to, we are fairly certain they are unaware of their presence in a museum in this country.
We have been approached by a documentary film company who wish to make a TV programme about the darts. They would like to arrange for analysis of the coating of the darts to determine whether or not the poison is still active and then to take one dart back to South America to compare with modern darts used by people there today.
Ideally they would also like the indigenous people to use the dart in an actual hunt. How should we respond?
Whatever happens it is important that these artifacts inflict no injury whilst in your care. Whether or not the company commissions analysis of their poison content, you should already have researched and acted on the health and safety implications of having the darts in the collection.
Contact other museums, which may have similar items, to establish and share best practice. The film company's interest in the darts should be regarded as an opportunity. However, it would also be realistic to assume that their motives in pursuing this project are to develop a story line that will appeal to viewers.
Their approach will not necessarily be consistent with good museum practice or be in line with the belief systems of the originating community.
Ideally the company should have had their story line vetted by a legitimate representative of the originating community. At the very least the company should have made contacts with the community to determine any sacred or religious considerations around the use of these darts that should be borne in mind before you agree to any of the film company's proposals.
You should be prepared for the consequences of informing the originating community of the presence of their artifacts in your collection.
This should happen irrespective of how or whether the programme is made. Respect any requirements the originating community expresses for culturally acceptable conditions of storage, handling and display. It is important that the museum clarifies also the basis on which any proposed return of one of these darts is made. If a dart is used in a hunt it will almost certainly be lost.
This should be made clear to the governing body whose responsibility it is to approve and document the rationale for a disposal in these circumstances. The dialogue you engage in with the originating community may, of course, ultimately lead to a request for the repatriation of the entire quiver. Any such request should be treated sensitively.
The repatriation issue has generated a great deal of debate. You should refer initially to the guidelines for good practice issued by MLA, set out in their publication 'Restitution and Repatriation', telephone: 020 7273 1444.
For further guidance on current thinking and good practice contact the Museum Ethnographers Group: www.museumethnographersgroup.org.uk
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