National Leadership Grant
Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums:
Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways

Model Project:
Oregon Collaborative Project

Summary Report

We engaged in this project to share our valuable resources and to remove barriers that prevent us from developing and/or strengthening tribal libraries, archives and museums. The Oregon Collaborative Project convened a focus group last May to identify participants and topics of concern. Held at the Oregon State Library, it was the first time for many representatives from tribal libraries, archives and museums to meet the staff and resources of the state library.

Based on the facilitated conversations at the focus group meeting it was decided that a conference of tribal libraries, archives and museums and other state agencies should be held in October 2004. It was also recommended that a listserve and a state directory of tribal library, archive and museum professionals who participate in the project be developed to encourage ongoing communication and collaboration.

The Oregon Collaborative Conference

On October 22, 2004 representatives of tribal libraries, archives and museums in Oregon met with their non-tribal colleagues to take an important first step towards developing a network of communication and support. The conference was hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and held at the Tamastislikt Cultural Institute, the tribes' cultural center and museum.

Malissa Minthorn (left) and MaryKay Dahlgreen, Conference Co-Directors
Pre-conference workshop

A pre-conference workshop on how to apply for grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was attended by approximately 20 representatives from tribal and non-tribal cultural institutions. The one day conference attracted 40 representatives from tribal and non-tribal libraries, archives and museums.
Participant List (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Conference sessions included: The Value of Digital Collaboration and Resource Sharing for Implementation; The Southwest Oregon Research Project and the Repatriation of Native American Archival Resources; Basic Archival Practices and Preventative Strategies for Preservation.
Conference Agenda

Dr. Cheryl Metoyer, conference keynote speaker.

Dr. Cheryl Metoyer from UCLA American Indian Studies Department offered the keynote address. Her speech is reprinted here.

In the short term tribal and state library, archive and museum professionals who participated in the project increased their awareness of resources and opportunities for collaboration. The commitment to collaboration between the state and Oregon tribes has already been strengthened. Tribal communities have been asked to comment on how the current definition of a public library might be revised to include tribal libraries in the state. At the end of the conference, there was an energized and enthusiastic response to continue communication through the listserve and possible future meetings or workshops.

The Oregon Collaborative Project will be one of the featured panels at the upcoming national conference, Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways: Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums. The panel will discuss the challenges and successes of the project in detail.

Photos by Susan Secakuku.

Other Model Projects: Planning for Results | Mohawk Cultural and Historical Documents