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Skip Navigation LinksHome > Statewide Programs > Arizona Convocations > 1999 > Forum

Arizona Forum On Tribal Museums, Libraries And Archives

August 16-17, 1999, San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation

Background
The Forum was supported by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant was awarded to a consortium of five states seeking to develop collaborations between museums and libraries. Arizona's Forum was only one of five similar gatherings that will occur within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. The Five State American Indian Project seeks to target tribal libraries, museums and archives as potential collaborative partners for projects within the state while improving service to tribal communities.

Structure
The Forum structure included three opportunities for participants to convene as a general assembly. These included the keynote lecture and two panel presentations. To promote networking and discussion of relevant issues and programs, the Forum offered concurrent breakout sessions. Since this was the first time that this particular group came together, it was critical that the Forum serve to introduce tribal concerns in a way that was respectful to tribes while at the same time educational for the non-Indians in attendance.

Issues
The Forum raised the following issues:

  • Tribes are asserting control over material in their own collections
  • Tribes seek funding for buildings and services
  • Information on technology is varied but critical to everyone
  • Tribes will share culture on their own terms
  • For partnerships to be effective tribes must be viewed as equal partners
  • Tribal and non-tribal cultural organizations share more similarities than differences in their efforts to raise funds, make do with limited resources, educate their community and political leaders.

Logistics
A total of 83 participants attended the Forum. A little over half of the participants were from tribal organizations. Every effort was made to have a balanced representation of people working in libraries, museums, and archives. The Forum was held at the San Carlos Apache Gold Casino and Resort . The grant provided for meals and lodging for all the participants.

Forum Summary
Cultural awareness and information exchange began with a presentation on the San Carlos Apache Tribe by the director of the San Carlos Apache Cultural Center, Herb Stevens. Participants were treated to a series of Apache songs followed by a videotape that focused on different aspects of Apache culture. The sharing of culture, offered with sincerity and a touch of humor, welcomed the meeting participants to the San Carlos Apache homeland and set the tone for an honest, non-threatening gathering.

Jennifer Brathovode (Spirit Lake Sioux) from the Library of Congress delivered the keynote slide/lecture presentation. Her lecture featured the Native American photo collection of the Library of Congress. She discussed the historical foundation of many of the images in the collection. Jennifer's presentation provided a broad overview of photos in the following categories:

  • Indian Delegations and Government Relations
  • Federal Government Surveys and Other Expeditions
  • Indian Wars and Confrontations
  • The Frontier
  • Villages and Reservation Life
  • Pictorial Photographs
  • Stereotypes, Satires, Advertising

After laying the historical foundation, Jennifer discussed how Indian people are actively participating now in collecting and identifying historical images. As a result, there is an increased sensitivity within the Photo Department of the Library of Congress. Native Americans are now the audience for these historical images that are becoming increasingly more valuable to families and tribes. She went on to describe how Native Americans are now creating contemporary photos that reflect the current social and cultural landscape of their tribal communities. These photos open up to non-Indian audiences a new perspective on contemporary American Indian life. The keynote address highlighted issues that were to be repeated throughout the Forum.

The Forum sought to increase understanding and awareness of tribal libraries, museums and archives. To facilitate this, most of the morning schedule on the second day was spent on introductions. Participants were able to connect individuals with specific programs and tribal communities. This made it easier for people to continue discussions on relevant topics throughout the day. Also, many tribal protocols consider introductions essential prior to any substantial communication or deliberations.

Forum Summary (Continued)
The first panel presentation featured representatives from: the Arizona Humanities Council; the Arizona Community Foundation; the Department of Library, Archives and Public Records - Library Services Technology Act (LSTA); and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - Library Services Division. This panel was well received by the participants and confirmed the need tribes have for funds designated for library services and cultural programming. The session also generated questions on program criteria and eligibility. Those tribes without a library building expressed frustration.

There was some discussion on the elimination of construction funds for tribal libraries. A tribal representative commented on criteria for federal grants. He argued that while government agencies seek to fund innovative programs they should be aware that for a tribe to want to establish a library is in fact, innovative. Tribal representatives also expressed concern that they have more bureaucracy to negotiate when submitting grant proposals than non-tribal organizations and libraries. Grant applications often require multi-levels of approval just to get the signature of the tribal official on the application. The session helped to broaden the funding agencies' awareness of tribal concerns regarding grant programs.

Breakout sessions followed the funding panel. The sessions were:

  • Starting from Scratch: Developing a Tribal Cultural Organization
  • Repatriation: Tribal Models of Collaboration
  • Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records (offered twice)
  • Technology: Pros and Cons
  • Education and Training Opportunities

The sessions gave participants an introduction to the various topics and provided them with contacts in order to begin to gather more in-depth information.

The last panel on the program featured Amelia Flores, Library and Archives Director, Colorado River Indian Tribes; Elaine Peters, Director, Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, Director, Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. The panel addressed the topic, Issues of Access and Cultural Sensitivity: Tribal Perspectives. This panel was included in the program to increase awareness and understanding of tribal concerns regarding sensitive material in archives and in libraries.

Over the last several years, tribes have begun to articulate their desire to control and limit certain cultural information. While limiting access to records and information already in the public domain is problematic, more tribes are developing research policies for their own tribal archive programs. The tribal communities represented on the panel all have archive programs but they are at different levels of development. The panelists all expressed the need for restrictions to records under their control based on spiritual and religious beliefs. This was probably new information to many of the non-Indian participants at the Forum and it was also the first time several different tribal voices were given the opportunity to talk candidly about this issue.

The panelists gave examples of what constitutes sensitive information. These examples ranged from anthropological field notes that described restricted ceremonies to song recordings to fingerprints of deceased relatives. From the tribal perspective, there are two main reasons for restricting access to religious and esoteric information for both Indian and non-Indian readers/researchers. For many American Indian people, there is the potential that exposure to certain information, particularly songs, may be harmful to the casual listener. Restricting access reduces the risk of emotional and spiritual harm. The second reason for restricting information has everything to do with respect.

The panelists expressed deep concern of how sensitive material has been appropriated and misrepresented over the years. One of the panelists mentioned that tribes are still in the process of trying to figure out for themselves how to deal with this issue. The panelists eloquently conveyed the message that there is a difference in how Indian and non-Indian people comprehend cultural information. Taken out of context, certain information can be the source of great pain and sorrow for many Indian people. The panelists also asserted that tribes are increasingly monitoring access to cultural information that they control and are granting access only on their own terms. The panel provided perspective to non-Indian librarians and archivists as to why the Native American community is so concerned about cultural information being made accessible to researchers.

Next Steps
The Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records has moved swiftly to make sure that the expectations raised at the meeting are met. Site visits to provide technical assistance to tribal libraries have already occurred as a result of the Forum. Travel support has been set aside for tribes to attend the Arizona Library Association annual conference. A smaller, follow up meeting is being planned to further define the needs of tribal libraries, museums and archives.

 

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Updated:  8/10/2007