“On behalf of the family”

Vista general

The DAM’s Indigenous art collection features two Haida poles. Back in November 2019, the Denver Art Museum held a Haida pole-raising ceremony to honor the history of the poles and the legacy of the Wallace family who are direct descendants of the original owners of the poles.

In this lecture, Chris Patrello, Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial Fellow of Native Arts, will discuss the museum’s collaboration with the family and our stewardship of these monumental objects, as well as the importance of cultural protocols and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge at this pole-raising ceremony.

Topics of discussion includes:

• The planning process, events, and outcomes of the ceremony
• Practices in Haida culture including language, song, and dance
• How honoring Haida culture can bring forth meaningful relationships between institutions and originating communities

Ticket prices:

• Free for Museum Friends
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• $5 for members
• $15 for general public
• Free for students