Responses to controversial exhibitions in recent years have demonstrated the dissatisfaction felt by many indigenous peoples and ethnic groups at the ways in which the traditional western museum has represented their cultures and excluded them from the process of interpretation and display. Many indigenous peoples, such as Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians, are now demanding that sacred objects and human remains be removed from display and repatriated. Drawing upon material from Britain, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand Making Representations explores the ways in which museums and anthropologists are responding to these pressures by developing new policies and practices, and forging new relationships with communities. It also examines the increasing number of museums and cultural centres being established by indigenous and immigrant communities as they take control of the interpretive process and challenge the traditional role of the museum.

Responses to controversial exhibitions in recent years have demonstrated the dissatisfaction felt by many indigenous peoples and ethnic groups at the ways in which the western museum traditionally represented their cultures and excluded them from the process of interpretation and display. Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians, and other indigenous peoples are now demanding that human remains, sacred objects and other items of cultural property be removed from display and repatriated. Drawing upon the experiences of museum staff and communities across the globe, 'Making Representations' examines the development of new forms of museological practice. The author also examines the growth of museums, cultural centres and Aboriginal Keeping Places being established by indigenous and immigrant communities as they take control of the interpretive process and challenge the traditional role of the museum.