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A breakfast colloquoy to discuss Native American issues was held on May 7 during the National Conference of Librarians serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals. NLS librarians presented the following information about efforts to provide library services to Native Americans.
Linda Montgomery reported on a grant proposal being developed by the Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records entitled "Five States American Indian Project." This project will be a collaborative venture with Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah to increase library archives and museum expertise and improve access and services among tribal communities and types of institutions in the five states.
John Brewster stated that New Mexico has hired a Native American consultant to recruit Native Americans into various state-wide library programs.
Lora Lee Covell of the machine-lending agency said that the regional library is working with local tribal colleges to promote awareness of library services.
Dan Boyd described a U.S. Department of Education grant project with the Literacy Council of South Dakota designed to work with tribes within the state. In addition, the regional library has added thirty cassette titles in the Lakota language to its oral history collection.
Attendees talked about the need for new ideas on how to reach the Native American population. Questions arose such as, "what is the best way to provide outreach services and how can libraries increase their oral history/language collection?" Further discussions centered on awareness of tribal libraries in respective states, Internet sites on Native American-related issues, and bibliographies of Native American languages in the NLS collection.
Previous issues of Focus on Native Americans cover some of these topics and may provide assistance to librarians. For websites, see issue 97-04, New websites related to Native American literature, legislation, and housing. For suggestions on outreach services, see issue 94-01, Cultural beliefs and the provision of service; issues 94-04, and 94-05, Library services to Native Americans by Dan Boyd; and 94-06 Service to Native Americans: excerpts from an address by Dr. Lotsee Patterson, Professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Library and Information Studies, at the National Conference of Librarians, May 1994.
The American Indian Library Association held a conference prior to the American Library Association's annual convention in Washington, DC, in June, entitled "American Indian Issues and Resources: Tribal Views and Federal Sources." The emphasis of this program was on helping librarians locate relevant material on services to native populations. There were six speakers. Gary Bohnee, Majority Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, presented a congressional perspective on American Indian issues and concerns of the 105th Congress. Items of ongoing interest are: water settlement, gaming and gaming regulations, sale and use of tobacco, law enforcement, juvenile justice, education, trust funds, and Indian health care. Information about these concerns and related matters can be found on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs homepage at htttp://www.senate.gov/committee/indian_affairs.html
Phillip Martin, Chief of the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw Tribe, told of his strategies for dealing with American Indian economic, political, and social concerns. His emphasis was on economic development within the community, without which the community dies. He stressed the need for the community to become politically active in order to survive and grow.
Dr. Lotsee Patterson gave an overview of management of information in American Indian communities. She helps set up tribal libraries and feels that American Indian communities are in a transitional stage from oral traditions to written documentation. She said that tribal libraries can be key players within their communities in preserving, archiving, and maintaining important resources and records.
Two staff members of the Library of Congress provided insights into their research utilizing the Library's collection of treaties, prints, and photographs. Tom Blumer of the Library's Law Library presented an overview of legal research and American Indian issues and Jennifer Brathovde of the Library's Prints and Photographs Division showed slides of historical images of American Indians. In addition, Roger Walke of the Library's Congressional Research Service discussed resources dealing with American Indian research and legislation. Contemporary useful guides include Canby, W., American Indian Law in a Nutshell, 3rd ed., St. Paul, MN: West Publ. Co., 1998. 250p. $20.95; and Kravitz, W., Congressional Quarterly's American Congressional Dictionary, 2nd ed., Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1997. Washington, DC, 1997. 290p. $30.95.
Updated December 27, 2002
