Convener(s): Dr Alice Baldock and Professor Sho Konishi
Speaker(s): Dr Kanako Uzawa
Talk Title:
I Am a Living Object: Decolonizing Museum Spaces with Indigenous Narratives
Subtitle:
Restoring Memory and Spirit through Stories of Belonging
Abstract:
This talk delves into the decolonization of museum spaces by centering Indigenous narratives. For too long, museums have treated Indigenous artifacts as static objects, detached from their origins. I aim to restore life to these collections, weaving in ancestral wisdom, personal stories, and community connections.
Through poetic expression and collaborative storytelling, I transform museums into vibrant spaces where the voices of the past resonate with the dreams of the future, rekindling cultural memory and a sense of belonging. During the presentation, I will perform with the Mukkuri, an Ainu traditional mouth harp, and showcase my short art film I Am a Living Object, filmed in Bendigo, Australia, offering a profound visual and auditory experience of living culture and people.
Bio:
I am an Ainu scholar, artist, cultural advisor, and advocate committed to elevating Indigenous voices globally. As the founder of AinuToday and CEO of K. Uzawa Consult, I engage in scholarly and public forums to celebrate Indigenous identity. I am an Assistant Professor at the Global Station for Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity at Hokkaido University and an affiliated researcher at the Historical Museum of the University of Oslo, blending academic and artistic approaches to cultural preservation.
With an MA in Indigenous Studies and a PhD in Community Planning and Cultural Understanding from UiT Arctic University of Norway, my work bridges academia and art, focusing on Indigenous knowledge in museums and theaters. I contribute to global collaborative research and serve on the Working Committee of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park Management Council in Japan. I also hold board positions with Japan & Past and the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported Collaborative Research initiative.
As an artist, I have performed globally, including at the Cultural Festival Bodø 2024 in Norway, and served as a Visiting Artist in Residence at La Trobe Art Institute in Australia, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, and the Swedish National Theatre. I also work as a guest curator for the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the National Museum of Lithuania. My work celebrates the Ainu spirit and envisions a future that honors the wisdom of all Indigenous cultures.
Photo credit to Mats Gangvik.
