The embattled Museum of the Aleutians reopened on Friday but the controversy that included a two-week shutdown, employee resignations and a board shakeup has not died.
At an emotional meeting on Thursday, five members of the board voted to reopen the museum and reinstate director Zoya Johnson, who had been put on paid administrative leave during the closure after museum items were found in her house.
A Bible from 1801 and two other historical Russian Orthodox books were discovered at Johnson's house in Dutch Harbor.
Johnson said she must have intended to return the items to officials with the former Russian Orthodox Museum in Anchorage, but forgot she had them after a stressful time associated with the accidental death of her husband in 2008.
Some critics in the Aleutian Islands town of 4,700 alleged theft – an allegation denied by the board after an internal investigation. Others maintained that important historical items should never have been sitting unprotected in someone's home, especially without proper documentation.
The situation has prompted alarm at the Native village corporation, Ounalashka Corp., which last week replaced its representative to the museum board, chair Sharon Svarny-Livingston, who had supported Johnson, with Suzi Golodoff, who said Johnson violated museum protocol regarding care and handling.
Ounalashka chair Vincent Tutiakoff Sr. also gave a passionate plea for a change in leadership, choking up as he described the value of Russian Orthodoxy to the Aleut people. Johnson, who is also a city councilwoman, was reinstated because she is politically connected, Tutiakoff alleged.
He said anyone else would have been "thrown out on their keister."
"I'm concerned she's there alone at the museum, watching the hen house," said Tutiakoff.
Tutiakoff pointed out that the corporation leases land to the museum for $1 annually, and is considering future steps.
Johnson said Tutiakoff is welcome to his opinions.
"It's great news of course," she said of the reopening. "That was the goal, to open the museum as soon as possible."
After the discovery of the books, two museum officials in charge of collections and educational programs quit, leaving Johnson with a staff of two, a front-desk attendant and a janitor.
The board, after seeking guidance from statewide museum officials, issued a statement Friday saying the museum's protocol will be reviewed by an outside professional.
Johnson must also write a letter of apology to the community, and she will receive a letter of reprimand for the "breach in collections protocol, the board said.
A community open house is also planned to receive feedback, though no date has been set, said Johnson.
"I will accept what my board has decided and I am happy to apologize to the community," she said.