Root Work Collaborative

Our heritage has been pillaged, erased, denied, and forgotten. If you are Black and/or Native, where can you begin your search for a connection to your ancestors? How do you know which resources are accurate and which are corrupted by colonialism? What tools are used to hold museums accountable for their commitments? This issue has led to generations of African, Indigenous, and Afro-Indigenous people with unrecoverable genealogy. The impact can be devastating--especially when considering that some non-Native individuals have historically been able to buy their way into Indigenous citizenship.

The protracted delay in the repatriation of artifacts poses a historical threat.

Scale and Urgency of the Issue

• Vast Number of Artifacts: Ancestral remains, sacred objects, and items of cultural significance, are held in museums and institutions across the world.

• Slow Pace of Progress: Despite legislative progress, museums lack the logistical nuance to take concrete steps. Bureaucratic hurdles, insufficient funding, and lack of prioritization also slow down the process.

• Ongoing Cultural Loss: Every day these objects remain outside of their communities, our communities suffer. They are unable to perform ceremonies, access traditional knowledge embodied in the objects, and pass on cultural practices, which disrupts the continuity of their cultural identities.

Tangible Examples

• Ancestral Remains in Storage: Thousands of ancestral remains reside in boxes and on shelves within museums, denying them rightful burial practices and spiritual rest. This perpetuates historical trauma for descendant communities.

• Sacred Objects Disconnected: Items such as ceremonial masks, medicine bundles, and tribal regalia lose their spiritual and cultural power when taken from their original context and communities. This disconnection weakens cultural resilience.

• Community Healing Denied: The return of these artifacts could facilitate healing processes for communities grappling with historical injustices and their ongoing consequences.

Contributing Factors

• Outdated and Paternalistic Practices: Some museums cling to outdated collecting practices and notions of ownership rooted in a history of colonialism, making them reluctant to relinquish control over these objects.

• Lack of Prioritization: Repatriation is too often considered a low priority for museums that are primarily focused on exhibitions and public outreach, rather than addressing historical injustices.

Consequences

The continued delay in repatriation is deeply problematic because it:

• Perpetuates Cultural Erasure: It reinforces narratives of Indigenous and African cultures as vanished or extinct, further marginalizing contemporary Indigenous communities.

• Hinders Cultural Revitalization: Tribes are denied access to the very objects that could help preserve traditional practices and knowledge.

• Breaches Trust: Prolonged delays fuel mistrust between Indigenous communities and the museums that hold their heritage, making future collaborations difficult.

The urgency of addressing repatriation is paramount. It's not just about returning objects; it's about acknowledging past injustices, respecting Indigenous sovereignty, and supporting the survival and self-determination of historically disadvantaged communities. It is imperative that we invest in a method to right these wrongs.

Root/Work is an interactive and user-friendly online database designed to catalogue Indigenous & African and African art held in museums that might be eligible for repatriation. It aims to promote transparency, facilitate communication, and empower both museums and Indigenous & African communities throughout the repatriation process.

Features:

• Comprehensive Catalog: Root/Work curates a comprehensive database of objects held in museums across the country. This includes detailed information like object descriptions, provenance (history of ownership), tribal affiliation (if known), and high-resolution images.

• Interactive Search: Users can easily search the database using various filters, such as tribal affiliation, object type, museum location, and keywords.

• Repatriation Status Tracking: Each object entry features a dedicated section for tracking the repatriation process. This section displays the current status (e.g., under review, consultation ongoing, repatriated), historical timeline of the process, and relevant documents like consultation reports and agreements.

• Integrated Communication Platform: Root/Work fosters communication and collaboration between museums and Indigenous & African communities. The platform provides secure messaging functionalities allowing authorized representatives from both parties to exchange information, ask questions, and share updates directly within the database.

• Annotated Notes: Museums and tribal representatives can add annotated notes to each object entry. These notes can document their perspectives on the object's history, cultural significance, and potential repatriation concerns.

• Educational Resources: Root/Work offers a dedicated section with educational resources about the history of African and Indigenous art collecting, repatriation laws, and the cultural importance of these objects for Indigenous & African communities.

Technology:

Root/Work will utilize several advanced technologies to ensure a user-friendly and secure experience:

• Image Recognition: The database employs image recognition software to efficiently match potential matches between tribal claims and museum collections.

• Secure Access Management: Multi-factor authentication and role-based access control ensure secure access to different functionalities for authorized users (e.g., museum curators, tribal representatives).

• Data Encryption: All sensitive information within the database is encrypted for maximum security.

Benefits:

• Transparency: Root/Work promotes transparency throughout the repatriation process, allowing the public to track progress and understand the complexities involved.

• Accessibility: The user-friendly interface and comprehensive search functionalities make it easy for Indigenous & African communities to access information about objects potentially belonging to their heritage.

• Communication and Collaboration: The integrated communication platform fosters open communication and collaboration between museums and tribes, facilitating a smoother and more respectful repatriation process.

• Education and Awareness: The educational resources section raises awareness about the historical context and cultural significance of certain art, promoting understanding and respect for Indigenous & African cultural heritage.

Root/Work aims to be a valuable tool in the ongoing journey of repatriation, empowering both museums and Indigenous & African communities to work together in a transparent, respectful, and collaborative manner.

All Indigenous communities. I am Choctaw and am currently working with Taino, Cherokee, Cree, occaneechi Saponi, and other individuals for best practices. We are not a monolith, so as Root/Work rolls out, the research and collaborative efforts will continue. This sort of archive is a solution to the problems many of us have identified within the art world.

Our team includes archivists (both traditional academics and community preservationists), scholars, community organizers, and artists from different Indigenous communities. Part of the reason that so many repatriation projects have failed or stalled is because the decision makers in those processes have not bee from our communities. Our team has first hand experienced coupled with training that amplifies our work.

Root/Work has a long way to go, but we've developed the base of the platform. In addition to robust wireframes, Root/Work also has a couple test cases with our current system. We have done some work and studied relevant databases, but our current system is not ready for the larger market. Our database is not yet user friendly and is still about six months away from being as impactful as we want it. So far, we've only worked with two museums.

Our main barrier is technical. Which we have a great deal of archival and research expertise, our tech skills are limited. We're looking to enhance our current tech skills while getting mentorship to push our project forward. Right now, the team has rudimentary level knowledge and in order to accomplish what we've envisioned, we're looking for substantial training and development.

I am Afro-Indigenous (Choctaw) and have been working with local museums to advise their repatriation process.

Root/Work's proposed global tracking/evaluation/ranking system is unprecedented and could significantly improve repatriation of Indigenous & African artifacts. Historically, each museum manages their own process with little to no oversight, resulting in multi-year delays, lost trust within communities, and damaged or destroyed artifacts. Root/Work has the potential to be a global catalyst for change in this area.

The Root/Work theory of change:

1. Enhanced Transparency and Accessibility: By providing a centralized, comprehensive, and publicly accessible database, Root/Work aims to increase transparency and facilitate information sharing throughout the repatriation process. This empowers both Indigenous communities and the public to track progress, understand the challenges, and hold institutions accountable.

2. Improved Communication and Collaboration: The integrated communication platform fosters constructive dialogue between museums and tribes, enabling them to exchange information, share perspectives, and navigate the complexities of repatriation collaboratively. This can lead to more efficient communication, reduced misunderstandings, and ultimately, swifter resolution of repatriation claims.

3. Empowered Indigenous Communities: By granting direct access to information about potentially belonging artifacts and providing tools for communication, Root/Work empowers Indigenous communities to participate actively in the repatriation process. This promotes self-determination, strengthens cultural heritage knowledge, and helps communities reclaim their cultural narrative.

4. Educational Impact and Increased Awareness: The educational resources within Root/Work contribute to broader societal understanding of the history and current context of Indigenous and African art collecting practices and the significance of repatriation. This fosters public empathy and support for ongoing efforts towards a more just and ethical approach to cultural heritage management.

In conclusion, Root/Work's user-friendly interface, robust functionalities, and commitment to inclusivity hold the potential to significantly impact the world by:

• Accelerating the pace of repatriation: By streamlining communication, promoting transparency, and offering a centralized platform for information exchange, Root/Work can help navigate the complexities of repatriation and potentially expedite the return of cultural heritage to its rightful communities.

• Transforming the repatriation discourse: By fostering collaborative communication and promoting open dialogue, Root/Work can shift the focus from conflict toward a more collaborative and respectful approach to repatriation grounded in mutual understanding and cultural sensitivity.

• Raising public awareness: Through its educational resources and engagement tools, Root/Work can spark broader public conversations about the importance of cultural heritage, historical accountability, and the ethical treatment of Indigenous communities and their cultural artifacts.

Ultimately, Root/Work aspires to create a positive ripple effect, where a user-friendly database equips communities, encourages transparency, and fosters dialogue, ultimately contributing to a more just and ethical future for the repatriation of Indigenous and African cultural heritage.

Root/Work has 3 Impact Goals 

#1: Enhance Transparency and Accessibility in Repatriation Processes

• Target: Increase public access to information about Indigenous and African art held in museums and the repatriation process by 30% within 3 years.
• Measurement: Track the number of unique users accessing Root/Work and analyze user engagement metrics like page views, searches conducted, and downloaded resources. Conduct surveys to gauge user satisfaction and understanding of the repatriation process.

Goal 2: Foster Collaboration and Streamline Communication for Repatriation

• Target: Achieve a 40% increase in the use of Root/Work's communication platform for direct communication between museums and tribes within 2 years.
• Measurement: Monitor the number of messages exchanged and collaboration features utilized within the platform. Conduct follow-up surveys with museum and tribal representatives to assess the platform's effectiveness in facilitating communication and collaboration.

Goal 3: Empower Indigenous Communities and Raise Public Awareness

• Target: Increase the number of tribal consultations initiated through Root/Work by 25% within 1 year. Additionally, aim for a 10% rise in public knowledge about the importance of Native American art repatriation based on surveys within 3 years.
• Measurement: Track the number of tribal consultations initiated through the platform and document relevant outcomes. Conduct surveys at the beginning and end of the 3-year period to gauge public awareness and understanding of the issue.

These goals align with the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, we reduce inequalities, invest in justice & strong institutions, and rely on collaborative partnerships between diverse stakeholders.

By continually monitoring and evaluating progress towards these goals, Root/Work can adapt and refine its features to ensure it is effectively contributing to a more transparent, collaborative, and equitable repatriation process for African and Indigenous cultural heritage.

Root/Work includes the use of conditional logic, file uploads, calculating fields, and a ranking system. As the tech grows and the law catches up, we also intend to find ethical uses for AI.

Kentucky

This is an all-volunteer team of 4.

1 year

The team is all creators of color including representation from multiple Indigenous tribes and those of African ancestry.

The key customers for Root/Work are museums in possession of artifacts that need to be repatriated.

Root/Work is a Free-for-service business model. I recently led a crowdfunding campaign and raised $25,000 for operations, but those funds do not go to development for Root/Work. The company has no debt and with the right partners/marketing, we can be financially stable within 18 months.