Keynote & Land Acknowledgement

ARCS is excited to announce our Keynote and Land Acknowledgement Speaker for the 2025 Conference

Land Acknowledgement

Galen Gritts (Cherokee Nation) 

The Forgotten Trunk in the Attic 

The artifacts, records and facts have been collected, collated and labelled; they have been organized in our minds, then in electrons outside of our bodies, in separate spaces

Hallowed and hollowed spaces, you can almost hear the echoes, the solitude is reassuring and frightening.

This work matters. If you know how to listen, the echoes are from both the past and present.

As the St. Louis born poet, T.S. Eliot wrote:
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

After being here 14,000 years, in a mere 352 years the St. Louis area went from its population being 100% Native American folks to less than half of a percent today.

I will tell the story of The Forgotten Trunk in the Attic, of America’s premier people, of efforts of erasure.

I have learned to listen to the echoes, of the past, of the future. The work we do now is echoing. I can hear that, too.
*******
Buckle up, we will have a lot to cover. In fact, better pull that bar down, we are going on a roller coaster ride.
*******
I would not crawl. I learned to run. And you will, too.
This will be exciting.

Bio

Mr. Gritts is a registered member of the Cherokee Nation.  He has a degree in history from the University of Missouri. For six years he was a speaker for the Missouri Humanities Council.

To date this year, his speaking engagements have included:

• Missouri State Museum, Jefferson City Missouri (presentation)
• Missouri Botanical Garden (presentation)
• St. Louis Public Library - Central Library (presentation)
• History Museum (presentation)

He has presented to the Social Security Agency in Kansas City as well as the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.

Keynote

Linda Norris
Founder of Creative Futures, LLC

What can Ethics and Empathy mean in this Current Moment?

As museum workers, we pay (hopefully) significant attention to ethics–whether defined by AAM, ICOM, or AIC. But how do ethics intersect with empathetic work with our communities and our colleagues? Using examples from around the globe, Linda will explore that intersection and suggest ways that these two approaches working together can create a more just future for all. You’ll have a chance to share your perspectives and questions too!

Bio

Linda helps museums, libraries, archives, cultural institutions, and communities around the world reimagine how they tell stories—making them more inclusive, relevant, and impactful. Now heading Creative Futures, LLC, an informal collective that develops dynamic interpretations, build internal capacity, and foster creative, community-centered approaches to heritage. From 2017–2025 Linda worked at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, leading initiatives on memory, justice, and cultural resilience. She’s the co-author of Creativity in Museum Practice and a contributor to recent publications exploring the evolving role of museums in civic and social life.