Congressman Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., began the first of two congressional hearings on problems at the Smithsonian Institution by playing video clips of Anthea Hartig, the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) repeating land acknowledgements as she opened various museum events. Director Hartig would thank specific tribes and express gratitude for “the opportunity to work and live in their territories” or give thanks to the “first peoples on whose land we gather today.”
Note that Hartig did not say that NMAH events in say, California or Washington DC, occurred on land previously inhabited by American Indians, but on land that is presently on “their territory.” Congressman Burchett stated that logically this means that Hartig believes that Americans are “illegally occupying their own country.” Considering her viewpoint, Burchett asked Hartig: “I’m wondering have you ever planned on donating any of your personal property or any of the property of the Smithsonian to any of these tribes?” Hartig replied, “I don’t believe that is pertinent to the conversation, sir.”
