Storytelling, Cultural Awareness
“These stereotypes are problematic, and they’re still very powerful. They shape the American public’s understanding of Indigenous people.”

"On the first floor of the American Museum of Natural History, a diorama depicts an imagined 17th-century meeting between Dutch settlers and the Lenape, an Indigenous tribe inhabiting New Amsterdam, now New York City. It was intended to show a diplomatic negotiation between the two groups, but the portrayal tells a different story..."

"...Critics have said the diorama depicts cultural hierarchy, not a cultural exchange. Museum officials said they had been aware of these implications for a while, and now they have addressed them..."

..."While the scene remains intact, 10 large labels now adorn the glass, summarizing various issues. They were carefully chosen after a research process that took most of 2018. The largest one, visible from a distance, invites visitors to 'reconsider this scene.'"

Article: What’s Wrong With This Diorama? You Can Read All About It