The project Representing Papua: Portrayal of Culture from Local, National, and Global Perspectives is a six-month cultural exchange program and series of dialogues aimed at fostering international dialogue on the representation and repatriation of Papuan culture. The initiative brings together scholars from Indonesia and the United States, who will travel between the two countries to engage in collaborative research and discussions.

Central to the project is the repatriation of the Hampton Archive, an invaluable collection of Papuan artifacts assembled by Dr. O. W. Hampton that includes significant artworks and indigenous technologies from the Baliem Valley. The collection, which has received repatriation approval from the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, will be transferred to its new home at Museum Loka Budaya in Papua. The project addresses the challenges of presenting and curating the newly repatriated material—a task complicated by the museum’s limited experience with new acquisitions over the past fifty years.

Through this exchange, the project aims to bridge gaps in understanding between Indonesian and American scholars regarding the cultural significance and presentation of Papuan artifacts. The program includes a month-long study tour in the United States for two Indonesian scholars, who will visit museums in San Francisco and Berkeley, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York to investigate the collection histories and current displays of Papuan objects. Concurrently, two American scholars will travel to Jakarta and Papua to study local presentations of indigenous cultures and engage with communities in the Baliem Valley.

This bidirectional exchange seeks to establish a shared understanding of current issues and priorities while enhancing the capabilities of museums in both countries. The project also contributes to broader discussions on museum decolonization by challenging colonial narratives and improving the portrayal of marginalized groups. The collaboration will help Museum Loka Budaya integrate new knowledge into its exhibits and educational initiatives, support Museum Ceria’s focus on children’s programs related to Papua, and deepen the Tracing Patterns Foundation’s ties to Indonesia.

The project will culminate in a series of webinars and focus-group discussions to share findings and foster further discourse on decolonization, repatriation, and the representation of Papuan culture. By bringing together scholars from diverse backgrounds, it aspires to create a more nuanced and respectful portrayal of Papuan culture that reflects the active role of ethnic groups in shaping their own cultural narratives.

Organized by the Tracing Patterns Foundation and funded by the Asian Cultural Council, this initiative is expected to have a lasting impact on the professional growth of the participants and the institutions involved, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of Papuan heritage.