Opportunities for Collaboration:
Relationships between Tribal Communities and
Non-Tribal Cultural Heritage Institutions
Panel: Developing Successful Partnerships Between Tribal Communities
and Non-Tribal Cultural Heritage Institutions
ATALM Conference, Albuquerque, NM
June 12, 2013
Natalia Fernández, Oregon Multicultural Archives, Oregon State University
Photograph: Baldwin Fairchild of the Siletz Tribal Community, 1910-07-04, E. E. Wilson Photographic Collection, P101:453
Oregon’s Nine Federally
Recognized Tribal Communities
Tribal Logos: (L to R Top Row) Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw / Burns Paiute / Cow Creek Band of Umpqua
Indians (L to R Bottom Row) Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde / Klamath Tribes / Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Reservation /
Coquille Indian Tribe / Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs / Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Relationship Building:
Individual-to-Individual
Project Examples:
Research Assistance
Grant Review
Technology Sharing
Staff Recommendations
Resources:
Time
Expertise
Equipment
Photograph: Larry Landis, OSU and David Lewis, Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde, July 2011 at the Grand Ronde Library
Relationship Building:
Department-to-Department
LSTA grant funded
project to provide
affordable, accessible,
and in-depth archives
training hosted at OSU
in August 2012
Project Website: http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oma/tai/index.html
Relationship Building:
Institution-to-Government
Developing a Memorandum of
Understanding
Benefit: can be a wonderful symbol of
commitment; a formal, declarative
statement
Challenge: changing politics
Admin Level ~ communicate your
vision with all departments involved
Dept. Level ~ be an advocate for
your staff and your needs
Have the resources needed in place
Photograph: OSU President John Byrne and
Warm Springs Tribal Council Chair Zane Jackson signing
the Memorandum of Understanding in 1991
The MoU was reaffirmed in 2009
Relationship Building:
Things to Consider
What type of relationship would be best for
your institution?
What resources do you have / what are you
willing to offer?
What types of projects are you interested in
pursuing?
What are your expectations for the
relationship?
Photograph: Signed Memorandum of Understanding
1991 between Warm Springs and OSU, 1991
Begin a Conversation
Communicate Needs and Relationship
Expectations
Reassess Your Needs Periodically
Develop Trust