Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums:
Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways
National Conference II
May 24-27, 2005

Opening Remarks

I am glad that you all came to the conference. My name is Alyce Sadongei. I am Kiowa and Tohono O’odham and I work as the Assistant Curator for Native American Relations at the Arizona State Museum.

Let me begin by saying a few words about this conference, how it came to be and its purpose. The conference is funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant was awarded to two partnering organizations: the Arizona State Museum, located in Tucson, and the Arizona State Library, located in Phoenix. The two year grant has three major activities: Model Projects of Collaboration, a national directory of tribal libraries, archives and museums, and a national conference of tribal libraries, archives and museums.

The Model Projects of Collaboration are three regional projects that were designed to promote communication, the sharing of resources and collaboration. The results of the regional projects will be highlighted during our plenary session tomorrow. The partners in the model projects include:

These links open in a new window:

The Akwesasne Museum and Library (Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy)

Northern New York Library Network

Tamastslikt Cultural Institute (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation)

Oregon State Library

Colorado River Indian Tribes Library and Archives

Arizona State Library

The second activity of the grant is a National directory of tribal libraries, archives and museums. We hope that the directory will increase capacity for collaboration among tribal and non-tribal libraries, archives and museums. The directory will be disseminated to state libraries, museum associations, archivist organizations and tribal cultural programs. You should have all received one along with your conference materials.

The third activity of the grant is this :the National conference: The conference continues the theme of Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways, a theme that was first introduced in June of 2000. This current National Leadership Grant actually builds on two previous grants that were awarded back in 1998 to a consortium of five western state libraries and museums. With each grant, it became clear that tribal and non-tribal cultural institutions such as libraries, archives and museums share similar goals and programs and that, in some cases, working together can result in improved services, increased communication and mutual respect. The key component is getting representatives from these organizations introduced to each other, to get past perceptions that limit effective communication. We found that conferences and meetings such as this one can provide that opportunity to come together, to talk face to face with each other. Some of you might have been involved in those previously funded activities, state or regional conferences, technical assistance workshops or even the last national conference of tribal libraries, archives and museums which was held in this same location back in 2002. Another constant theme that emerged from these grant activities was the partnership between the Arizona State Library and the Arizona State Museum. As the two institutional partners for this current grant, the Arizona State Library and the Arizona State Museum have different areas of program and institutional focus but we share the commitment to try to increase collaboration and communication among tribal and non-tribal cultural organizations.

Unlike other national conferences that are supported by professional organizations in the field, this gathering is unique in that it is not an annual event, it is not supported by a professional organization dedicated to the purpose of national meetings. In other words it is the brainchild of grant project staff that includes me, Susan Secakuku, grant project coordinator and Jane Kolbe, director of the library development division of the Arizona State Library. We also had help from an envisioning committee that was formed to serve as a sounding board for ideas and guidance. Members include Terry Supahan, Language Instructor and Advocate, Betsy Sywetz, Library Consultant, Janine Bowechop, Director of the Makah Culture and Research Center, Tom Hill, Museum Director at the Woodland Culture Centre, Amelia Flores, Colorado River Indian Tribes Library and Archive Director, Elaine Peters, Director of the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco Museum, Loriene Roy, Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Information Resources and Library Science, Gloria Lomahaftewa, Curator, Heard Museum, and Rayna Green, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

In other words, we are the responsible parties. I say this in part to explain why the program may seem top heavy in Arizona resources, (it was easier to contact people) and why the information tables, poster sessions and panels were by invitation. We simply did not have enough staff to support a review process to select these areas, which is usually the norm at most conferences. We have tried to present a balanced, challenging, inspiring program but we also need your active participation at all of the events and panels in order to make this conference successful.

I would like to thank all the speakers and panelists who are donating their time and expertise to this event. In addition I would like to recognize special contributors to the conference, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Ak- Chin Indian Community, the Salt River Project for donated printing of the conference program the Desert Diamond Casino of the Tohono O’odham Nation for an assortment of their promotional materials (playing cards, pens) and key project staff, from the state library: Director Gladysann Wells, Director of Library Development Jane Kolbe, Pauline Strickland, and Ken Evans. From the Arizona State Museum: Hartman Lomawaima, Director, Laura LePere, Webmaster and also Susan Secakuku. Finally, but certainly not the least, I would like to thank the Creator for giving us this day for providing us with life and granting us this opportunity to work together.

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