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 InstitutionsATALM 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

Photograph: Larry Landis, OSU and David Lewis, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, July 2011 at the

Grand Ronde Library

Relationship Building: Individual-to-Individual

Project Examples:Research Assistance Grant ReviewTechnology SharingStaff Recommendations

Resources: TimeExpertiseEquipment

Project Website: http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oma/tai/index.html

Relationship Building: Department-to-Department

LSTA grant funded project to provide affordable, accessible, and in-depth archives training hosted at OSU in August 2012

Relationship Building: Institution-to-Government

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

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: Signed Memorandum of Understanding 1991 between Warm Springs

and OSU, 1991

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?

Begin a Conversation

Communicate Needs and Relationship Expectations

Reassess Your Needs Periodically

Develop Trust