International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums
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Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums June 9–12, 2014 Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel Palm Springs, California Welcome to the International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums June 9-12, 2014 Table of Contents Welcome from W. Richard West, Honorary Chair -- Page 3 About ATALM, Page 4 Welcome from Letitia Chambers, About the Program Cover… Conference Chair, Page 5 For the second year in a row, ATALM has selected artwork with the images of birds. Why birds? Primarily because Helpful Information, Page 6 indigenous cultural institutions and birds serve a similar purpose -- they are mediators and message carriers National and Local Planning Council, between the spiritual and material worlds. “Sound Made Page 8 by Quail” by internationally acclaimed artist Jacob Meders (Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California) Schedule at a Glance, Page 9 resonated with us because quail are considered modest and humble birds, similar to many of us who dedicate our June 9 Pre-conferences, Page 11 lives and professions to sustaining and advancing indigenous cultures. June 10 Programs, Page 16 We admire Jacob Meders for his artistic talent and for his Guardian Award Winners, Page 29 commitment to using art to engage people of all cultures. His work reexamines varied documentations of indigenous June 11 Programs, Page 39 peoples that hold on to stereotypical ideas and how they have affected the culture of the native people. June 12 Programs, Page 52 Jacob graduated in 2007 with his BFA in painting and a Exhibitors and Preferred minor in printmaking at Savannah College of Art and Vendors, Page 59 Design in Savannah, Georgia, and in 2011 received his MFA in printmaking at Arizona State University. Recently Jacob Presenter Biographies, Page 62 exhibited his work in Divided Lines at The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, NM, Agents of Attendee Roster, Page 85 Change: An Exhibition of Artists’ Books and Prints with a Social Conscience in Gallery 31 at the Corcoran, Washington DC, Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed Cover Design: America Meredith Recent Acquisitions from the Heard Museum Collection, at The Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ, Illustrious at The Heard Cover Art: Jacob Meders North Scottsdale Museum in Scottsdale, AZ and Transcending Traditions at Mesa Contemporary Arts in Interior Design: Susan Feller Mesa, AZ. His work is collected by major universities and other institutions in the United States and internationally. Editors: Melissa Brodt, Samonia Byford, Susan Feller, Alison Freese, Franci Hart www.atalm.org | Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums 1 2 | Major support provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Welcome from W. Richard West, Honorary Chair Dear Friends and Colleagues: As the Honorary Chair for the International Conference of the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, it is my pleasure to welcome your participation in this outstanding program. ATALM embodies a fundamental aspect of my own philosophy, which is that indigenous peoples must sustain the cultural sovereignty of their own Native Nations. From my boyhood days as the son of a Cheyenne painter and academic who headed the Art Department at Bacone College, through my legal career working with tribes to protect their sovereign status, I came to realize the importance of Native peoples controlling their own cultures and cultural resources. That recognition led me to become the Founding Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. From the inception of NMAI to its opening in 2004 and until my retirement from that position in 2007, I worked to ensure that the museum reflected tribal voices and histories, and not the history as told by the colonizers of the Americas. The work that each of you do as leaders of tribal archives, libraries and museums is essential to the cultural survival of tribal peoples in the 21st century and beyond. I applaud the role that ATALM and its leadership have played in supporting tribally controlled archives, libraries, and museums through both technical training and leadership training. This work helps ensure that cultural resources are preserved and that Native values are reflected in an appropriate and authentic manner. I want to recognize and congratulate the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services for its vital support of ATALM, as well as the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for its support of this important organization. I also want to commend your tribal leaders and institutions for supporting your participation. With best wishes, W. Richard West W. Richard West President & CEO, The Autry National Center Founding Director and Director Emeritus, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian www.atalm.org | Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums 3 About the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) MISSION The Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) is an international organization that serves the needs of those who work to protect and advance cultural sovereignty. ATALM WORKS TO: Raise public awareness of the contributions and needs of indigenous cultural institutions through its international network of partners, both indigenous and non-indigenous; Provide culturally responsive services and programs through regional and national training events, web resources, and individual consultations; Partner with national organizations that provide training and services related to archives, libraries, and museums to incorporate indigenous perspectives into programs and services; and Serve as an advocate for indigenous cultural institutions with tribal leaders, funders, and government officials. VISION ATALM will ensure that every tribal nation will have its own archive, library, and museum to house locally its historical photographs, literature, songs, stories, and language recordings; its treaty documents, legal histories, historical data, ethnographies, and traditional information pertaining to each tribe. This critical body of knowledge—along with oral traditions and traditional art and artifacts—will be preserved and made readily accessible in a central locale and in a culturally appropriate manner. Materials will be housed in appropriate facilities and managed by professionally trained staff, thereby ensuring the political and cultural survival of tribal peoples in the 21st Century and beyond. GUIDING PRINCIPLES To operate from a position of integrity and accountability. To be the very best stewards of funds available to us. To be effective and passionate advocates for the cultural sovereignty of all indigenous nations. To be inclusive, respectful, and welcoming of everyone. To support the efforts of organizations that work to meet the needs of tribal archives, libraries, and museums. To have diversity in our officers and board. To strive for excellence in everything we do. Governing Board Letitia Chambers, Chair, Past Director, Heard Museum Sven Haakanson, Curator of Native American Anthropology, Susan Feller, President/CEO, Development Officer, Oklahoma Burke Museum, University of Washington Department of Libraries LaDonna Harris, President, Americans for Indian Opportunity Mary Ellen Meredith, Treasurer, Board Chair Emerita, Cherokee John Haworth, Director, NMAI NY, Smithsonian Institution National Historical Society Traci Morris, President, Homahota Consulting Teresa Runnels, Secretary, American Indian Resource Center Sherelyn Ogden, Conservator, Minnesota Historical Society Coordinator, Tulsa City-County Library Jennifer O'Neal, University Historian and Archivist, University Melissa Brodt, Project Manager, Oklahoma City Beautiful of Oregon Libraries Lotsee Patterson, Professor Emerita, University of Oklahoma Advisory Council James Pepper Henry, Director, The Heard Museum Claudia Arnold, Vice Chancellor, Pepperdine University Omar Poler, Associate Outreach Specialist, University of Jaime Arsenault, Working Group on International Repatriation Wisconsin-Madison Jeanne Brako, Curator, Fort Lewis College Tim Tingle, Author, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Jameson Brandt, Coordinator, Canadian Museum of Civilization Della Warrior, Director New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts Amanda Cobb-Greetham, Publisher, Chickasaw Press and Culture Walter Echo-Hawk, Attorney and Author Kevin Gover, Director, National Museum of the American Indian 4 | Major support provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Welcome from Dr. Letitia Chambers, ATALM Chair Dear Friends and Colleagues, Welcome to the 2014 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums. ATALM grew out of a series of conferences and seminars supported by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The success of those conferences verified the need for an organization to facilitate sharing of information and expertise on cultural preservation and sovereignty. ATALM is now officially five years old as an organization, and it is very heartening and gratifying to see the growing professionalization of the field and the progress made by American Indian Nations as keepers and presenters of their own histories and ways of knowing. This conference is the result of many people working together. I want to thank all who have contributed their time and efforts, and I particularly want to thank the Institute of Museum and Library Services for its continuing support. I also