Family statement on the defacement of their ancestral image at Anchorage Museum

Press Release

Jan 31

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2024

Mana Alaska is issuing this statement on behalf of the family whose ancestral image was subjected to defacement at our exhibit in the Anchorage Museum. The family has asked to remain anonymous to prevent further harm to their family and elders.

"The incident, which occurred on January 18th, was first discovered not by the museum staff but by a member of our family. They were shocked to find a crude sticker defaced on their grandfather's face in the Mana exhibit, a space dedicated to honoring Filipino-American history. This particular photograph holds sentimental value, capturing the beginning of our grandfather's American dream. Although the museum extended a private apology to our family during a formal meeting held a week after the incident, the museum’s lack of urgency, their seeming indifference to its impact, and the insufficient protection of our communities’ heirlooms has left us heartbroken and disappointed.

We hope the museum will implement more robust preventive strategies, elevate customer service standards, and provide comprehensive training to improve responsiveness and empathy. We advocateforthese improvements to protect not just our family but all communities from facing similar distress in the future.

We also wish to convey to the community that defacing or vandalizing historical artifacts is deeply disrespectful. To the person responsiblefordefacing our grandfather’s collage: our beloved grandfather was the patriarch of our family and a respected member of the Filipino community. While it may have been a mere 'sticker' in your eyes, the challenges endured by our family are not as easily peeled away."

Mana Alaska