FINAL REPORT / SEPTEMBER 2003
Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums:
Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways:
A National Conference
Project Overview: Purpose, Goals, and Activities
Five State American Indian Project – National Leadership Grant
The national conference was the result of a multi-state, multi-year National
Leadership Grant awarded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services,
a federal agency. The lead agency for the Five State American Indian Project was the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, headed by GladysAnn
Wells. Other official partners included the Arizona State Museum, Colorado State
Library and Adult Education Office, The Heard Museum, Nevada State Library and
Archives, New Mexico State Library, Utah Division of Library Services. State
coordinators funded by the grant conducted needs assessments of current tribal
library, archive or museum development in each state and developed relevant
programming and training opportunities. Communication networks were created
by convening a conference for tribal libraries, archives and museums in each
of the states. A highlight of the Five State American Indian Project was a regional
conference designed to bring all the participants together to increase their
professional networks and to challenge them to think critically and broadly
about the issues that may affect the development of their tribal library, archive,
museum or other cultural program. Based on the success of the regional conference,
the project was extended to develop a national conference.
National Conference
The national conference shared the theme and goals of the regional conference
and was held May 7-10, 2002 in Mesa, Arizona. The conference was designed to:
- create a network of support for tribal cultural institutions and programs
- articulate contemporary issues related to the development of tribal libraries, archives and museums
- encourage collaboration among tribal and non-tribal cultural institutions
What Was the Conference Trying to Accomplish?
The conference was designed to bring together, for the first time, representatives
from tribal libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers and other culturally
related programs. The conference provided a unique opportunity for a variety
of related professionals to share a common experience of honoring the cultural
past while preserving and revitalizing its future. Ideally, collaboration with
and among tribes and non-tribal organizations who share the goal of enhancing
library, archive and museum service as a means of cultural empowerment and preservation
will transpire. The conference also sought to affirm and celebrate the achievements
that Native American professionals have made to the field. This was achieved
by having Native American library, museum, archive and language professionals
serve as presenters and speakers throughout the conference program. Finally,
the conference hoped to increase the professional networks of all the participants.
What Happened at the Conference?
The four-day event included the following components:
Who Organized the National Conference?
The conference was organized by the National Leadership Grant Project Director,
Alyce Sadongei (Kiowa/Tohono O’odham) of the Arizona State Museum. Two graduate
students from the School of Information Resources and Library Science at the University
of Arizona, Millie Walters (Navajo) and Sarah Kostelecky (Zuni) also provided
assistance. Fiscal management of the conference and the grant was provided by
GlaydsAnn Wells, Director, the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
In addition the Envisioning Committee provided support and guidance:
Janine Bowechop (Makah), Makah Culture and Research Center
Rayna Green (Cherokee), National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Tom Hill (Seneca), Woodland Cultural Centre
Jane Kolbe, Arizona State Library
Gloria A. Lomahaftewa, (Hopi/Choctaw), The Heard Museum
Elaine F. Peters (Ak-Chin) Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco Museum and Archives
Loriene Roy (White Earth Anishshnaabe), University of Texas at Austin, Graduate
School of Library and Information Science
Susan Secakuku (Hopi), National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
Terry Supahan (Karuk) and Sarah Supahan, Shivshaneen Inc.
Betsy Sywetz, Sywetz & Associates
Rebecca Tsosie (Yaqui), College of Law, Arizona State University
The conference was successful due to the many individuals who agreed to participate as chairs or speakers on the panels, plenary sessions, and local tours.
What Was Done to Prepare for the Conference?
A year in advance of the conference, project staff convened a meeting of the Envisioning
Committee to discuss themes, speakers and goals of the conference. The Envisioning
Committee was comprised of individuals who fit the following criteria: national
experience and reputation in the library, museum or archive field with emphasis
on tribal cultural organizations; experience in collaborative programming; knowledge
of current issues affecting Indian Country in general and cultural issues specifically,
ability to share broad based professional contacts to promote and inform the conference.
Project staff also reviewed the evaluations from the state and regional conferences
that were held under the auspices of the previously awarded Five State American
Indian Project National Leadership Grant. Since the national conference was an
extension of the Five State Project, it was a logical step to build on the groundwork
that had already been made. In addition to the Envisioning Committee, a focus
group of tribal archivists was also held to assess the needs of this particular
group who were not adequately represented on the Envisioning Committee.
Who Came to the Conference?
Approximately 250 individuals attended the conference representing tribal and
non-tribal libraries, archives, museums and other cultural organizations and
institutions from across the country. In addition indigenous representatives
from New Zealand and Canada also attended. The breakdown of participants was
as follows: 56% tribal employees or volunteers of a tribally operated library,
archive, museum or cultural center, 19% non-tribal libraries, archives or museums,
11% tribal language program employee or volunteer, other tribal cultural program
such as historic preservation or NAGPRA, 5% students, 3% federal or funding
agency representative.
Tribes Represented at the Conference
Organizations Represented at the Conference
Conference Session Highlights
Challenges and Long Term Goals
Registered conference participants were asked to provide contact information,
brief organizational history, current programming, challenges and long term
goals to include in the participant directory that was passed out at the conference.
Overall the submitted responses indicated that tribal organizations are challenged
by lack of consistent funding, limited pool of qualified individuals to staff
tribal libraries, archives and museums, lack of collaboration with related programs
(tribal and non-tribal), lack of space and proper facilities for archives, libraries
and museums. Long term goals included the promotion of tribal culture, history
and language, the development of collections for museums and libraries, providing
better library service to tribal communities and increasing tribal cultural
awareness and knowledge at all levels.
What Participants Said about the National Conference
National Conference Follow-Up Initiative and Projects
Unlike other conferences that are held annually as part of an ongoing professional
association, this gathering evolved as a result of the interest generated from
the regional conference of the Five State Project National Leadership Grant. While
the conference did not provide a mechanism for soliciting conference sessions,
proposals or recommendations from participants it did generate substantial interest
in seeking ways to maintain the professional contacts that had been made.
Since the conference:
A list serve has been established to continue to discuss issues raised at one
of the conference sessions, Native American Languages and Technology. The list
serve is maintained by the main conference session presenter and has over 100
subscribers.
A brief newsletter was mailed to conference participants that included an updated addendum of participants and sessions