How Indigenous Groups Are Using 3-D Technology to Preserve Ancient Practices

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 03:45:00 GMT
Scientific American - Technology

To safeguard fragile cultural objects, some groups are replicating them with digital models

The project is the latest in a series of similar partnerships between the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Indigenous North American groups.

Eric Hollinger, tribal liaison at NMNH's repatriation office, says such groups are increasingly turning to 3-D technology to document and even replicate their cultural objects.

Although NMNH had been using 3-D technology to reproduce other objects for years, Hollinger says this was the first time he realized that tribal authorities would be open to replicating culturally sensitive objects.

Back at the workshop in the Smithsonian's Museum Support Center in Maryland, staff have spent dozens of hours capturing and processing information to create the 3-D model of the Haida bear hat.

Although the Haida only worked with NMNH on a digital model of the hat, other groups have also tasked Smithsonian staff with producing physical reproductions, such as that of the pewter pipe.

"These projects have been some of the most rewarding that I've ever worked on," says Vince Rossi, who heads the 3-D program at the Smithsonian's DPO and worked on the sculpin hat.

Hollinger and John are part of a National Science Foundation-funded working group dedicated to examining ethical issues in 3-D documentation of Indigenous heritage.

Hollinger says that tribal officials have initiated all of NMNH's 3-D replication projects and that the museum is able to honor restrictions that Indigenous groups set on the final products-such as controlling who has access to model files or physical replicas.

John previously asked NMNH to scan and replicate a Tlingit killer whale clan hat and allowed the Smithsonian to publish the 3-D model online.

A digital 3-D catalog of those items, she says, would help artists and elders preserve the art.

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