Narratives and representation: approaching cultural heritage in Oaxacan community museums

The relationship between local communities, indigenous groups, national governments, and international heritage organizations are becoming increasingly intertwined over issues concerning cultural artifacts, heritage and representation. Community museums lay at the center of these connections. This thesis examines the strategies and challenges underlying community museum development as well as the tensions. Community museums in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico are highlighted due to their prominence in museological literature and continued growth in the region. Many of these museums are created by Zapotec communities that desire spaces to preserve and share local cultural artifacts that would otherwise have been sent to large cultural institutions for posterity. A literature review and three case studies are conducted along with a discussion of issues surrounding Oaxacan community museums including the governance structures, the goals of stakeholders interacting with the museums, and the methods the museums employ to reflect local values and narratives.