Conference History
Laura Bush Librarians for the 21st Century Grant
In 2006 the Western Council of State Libraries (WCSL) submitted a grant application to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to fund 2 National Tribal Conferences and several Immersion Institutes commencing in 2007 through 2009.
The first 2007 National
Conference was held in Oklahoma.
The 2008 Immersion
Institutes are held throughout 2008.
The
final 2009 National
Conference will be held in Oregon.
The current grant concept originated from a multi-partner Arizona IMLS National Leadership Grant. This grant project is to continue to build upon the foundation from those earlier efforts 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; and encourage collaboration among tribal and non-tribal institutions.
Arizona National Leadership Grants
Arizona State Museum and the Arizona State Library were awarded a two year
National
Leadership Grant from IMLS. The grant supported the initiative of
a previous project titled, Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways:
Enhancing Partnerships with Tribal Libraries, Museums, and Archives. This
built upon a prior National Leadership Grant that was awarded to a consortium
of five western state library agencies and museums called the Five State
American Indian Project.
Major grant activities included: developing three model projects of collaboration;
disseminating a national directory of tribal libraries, archives and museums;
and convening a national conference of tribal libraries, archives and museums.
The goal of the model projects, as well as the directory and national conference were designed to allow diverse professionals to begin to explore collaborative projects as a solution to mutual concerns to encourage and sustain communication among tribal and non-tribal cultural organizations and state agencies by promoting cooperative and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Model Project Participants:
- The Akwesasne Museum and Library (Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy)
- Northern New York Library Network
- Tamástslikt Cultural Institute (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation)
- Oregon State Library
- Colorado River Indian Tribes Library and Archives
- Arizona State Library
