<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Hello!<br>
<br>
The Society of American Archivists is asking for comments from the
archives community on the Protocols for Native American Archival
Materials. I am forwarding this call for comments (which was likewise
forwarded to me by a colleague), in case there are others on
the Native Studies list who would like to submit their thoughts.<br>
<br>
The call is also available online at
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://archivists.org/news/2007-NatAmerProtocols.asp">http://archivists.org/news/2007-NatAmerProtocols.asp</a><br>
<br>
Some colleagues have also suggested that a formal declaration from
other groups-- organizations of scholars, historians, etc. whether
local, regional, or national-- would also be helpful and bear some
weight in promoting consideration of the protocols by professional
groups like the Society of American Archivists. With that in mind, if
you know organizations who would feel strongly about the issues that
the protocols speak to-- namely, how Native American archival materials
are handled, described and made accessible in non-Native institutions--
please forward this call and urge them to consider issuing a public
statement of support. I would be happy to forward any such statements
to SAA Council and the Task Force mentioned in the announcement.<br>
<br>
Best wishes,<br>
Kathleen<br>
<br>
Kathleen Burns, Archivist<br>
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library<br>
Yale University<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite" class="cite" cite=""><br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">TO: SAA
Leaders<br>
FR: The SAA Council<br>
DT: November 26, 2007<br>
RE: Comment Sought on Native American
Protocols Document<br>
<br>
The SAA Council is seeking widespread comment from the archives
community
on “Protocols for Native American Archival Materials”
[<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www2.nau.edu/libnap-p/protocols.html">http://www2.nau.edu/libnap-p/protocols.html</a>],
a draft document
developed
by a group of Native American and non-Native American archivists,
librarians, museum curators, historians, and anthropologists who
gathered
for a conference at Northern Arizona University in April 2006. <br>
<br>
The Protocols were presented to the SAA Council for endorsement at its
August 28, 2007, meeting. In response, the Council has formed a
Task Force – comprising Frank Boles (chair and SAA vice president),
David
George-Shongo (The Seneca Nation of Indians), and Christine Weideman
(Yale University) – that is charged with 1) contacting SAA sections,
roundtables, committees, and working groups to invite their formal
comments on the Protocols and 2) gathering comments from the broader
SAA
membership via posting of the Protocols on the SAA website by November
26. Information about the Protocols and this comment period are
being disseminated via email messages to the Leader List and the full
membership. The Task Force will summarize the comments received and
report that summary to the Council for consideration at its meeting in
early February.<br>
</font></blockquote>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times"><b>The deadline for comments is
December 17, 2007. Comments
should be forwarded to Task Force Chair Frank Boles via email to
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:boles1fj@cmich.edu">boles1fj@cmich.edu</a>.</b></font>
<blockquote type="cite" class="cite" cite=""><font
face="Times New Roman, Times"> <b><br>
</b>The SAA Council is taking the opportunity to disseminate widely,
and
call broadly for comment on, the Protocols because the Protocols
encompass some significant and substantial changes in archival theory
and
practice (such as: giving Native American communities authority to
restrict access to collections not only unrestricted by the donor but
open and used by researchers for many decades past; and noting
expectations for repatriation of certain material similar to that
required under the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation
Act
[NAGPRA]). On the other hand, the Protocols include a wide range of
actions that repositories can take to show respect for Native American
people, some of which are already within traditional archival best
practices (for example: informing Native American communities that
one’s
repository holds research collections related to their culture is basic
outreach; working with Native American communities to ensure that
relevant collections take account of their perspective in descriptions
not only balances what may be culturally biased or offensive
descriptions, but increases the research value of the collections by
adding additional context). <br>
<br>
At a minimum, the SAA Council believes that the Protocols give the
archives profession the chance to examine its practices in light of a
now
global effort on the part of native populations to reclaim certain
ethical and legal rights over property, at least some of which was
acquired from them or created about them under circumstances that would
not be tolerated today. Native peoples around the globe have been
involved in negotiating partnerships with the scholarly communities in
their nations for changed relationships toward stewardship of human
remains, recognition of indigenous intellectual property rights, and
other cultural stewardship issues. To be sure, however, such
negotiations have not been without difficulties, and thoughtful critics
have emerged to challenge some indigenous
claims.<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="??"><sup>[1]</sup></a> The
archives profession
should enter this conversation with as deep and broad a perspective as
possible, benefiting from the theory and practice of other
professions. Archivists are being asked to join anthropologists,
archeologists, ethnobotanists, and other professionals in examining
their
past and current practices in regard to Native
populations.<sup>[2]</sup> Nor are all
the issues raised by the Protocols – even the most difficult ones –
entirely new to archival discourse. Journal articles focused on the
relationship of majority culture to immigrant communities raise some of
the same concerns about cultural sovereignty as are raised by the
Protocols.<sup>[3]<br>
</sup> <br>
On first reading – and perhaps more fundamentally – the Protocols
challenge not only traditional archival practice but the heuristics on
which it is built. The Protocols raise questions such as whether
traditional Western norms of study and knowledge are the only
legitimate
ones. In a postmodern and pluralistic world, is it less tenable to
assert that there is only one true way of knowing the past? What
seems clear is that in a diverse society and a diverse profession,
frank
consideration of even controversial requests is required – not simply
as
a matter of respect for the framers of the Protocols, but for the
cultural majority to have the most rigorous analysis possible of its
own
theories and practices in the increasingly complex 21<sup>st</sup>
century. If we are truly faced with two contradictory world views
and methods of archival practice, compromise will be difficult. But
if difficult, not necessarily impossible. There is much that frank
self-assessment (Do we do things just because we’ve always done them or
based on bedrock first principles?), active understanding (If we are
inclined to repudiate another’s position, are we certain that we
understand it fully?), and mutual goodwill may be able to
accomplish.<br>
<br>
The introduction to the Protocols states <br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size="2"> <br>
The contributors to these North American best practices hope that the
lines of communication opened by this work will serve as the genesis
for
an ongoing national discussion around different approaches to the
management, preservation, and transmission of Native American knowledge
and information resources. These Protocols urge archivists and
librarians to consider Native American perspectives on professional
policy and practical issues…. New issues for consideration will
undoubtedly arise as the best practices are debated and
implemented. The contributors intend this document to be a work in
progress­subject to revision and enhancement. North American
libraries, archives, and American Indian communities will benefit from
embracing the power of conversation, cooperation, education,
negotiation,
and compromise. …it takes human connections to make positive changes
happen.<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
The SAA Council supports this call for consideration, “conversation,
cooperation, education, negotiation, and compromise.” We hope that the
process of widespread professional comment and discussion informing the
Council’s deliberation this winter will form the basis for thoughtful
and
respectful discussion among majority-culture archivists and between
them
and their Native American colleagues. Although the Protocols form
the crux of the conversation, it is possible that they are not the end
but the beginning of that discussion. <br>
<br>
We hope that you will take the time to read the Protocols document,
consider it thoughtfully, and share your perspectives with the Task
Force. Thank you.<br>
</font><b><br>
</b></blockquote>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times"><b>The deadline for comments is
December 17, 2007.</b></font>
<b>Please direct your comments to SAA Vice President Frank Boles at
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:boles1fj@cmich.edu">boles1fj@cmich.edu</a>.</b>
<blockquote type="cite" class="cite" cite=""><font size="2"> <br>
________<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size="2"><sup>[1]</sup></font>
See, for example, Cressida Fforde, Jane Hubert, and Paul Trumble, eds <i>The
Dead and Their Possessions: Repatriation in Principle,
Policy, and Practice</i> (New York, 2002) and Mary Riley, ed, <i>Indigenous
Intellectual Property Rights: Legal Obstacles and
Innovative Solutions</i> (New York, 2004), both of which presents case
studies from around the globe. A critique of many of the arguments
expressed in these two volumes can be found in Michael F. Brown, <i>Who
Owns Native Culture?</i> (Cambridge, 2003).<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size="2"><sup>2</sup></font> For
example, the Society of American Archeologists (another SAA) now
includes
in its ethical principles: “Responsible archeological research,
including all levels of professional activity, requires an
acknowledgement of public accountability and a commitment to make every
reasonable effort, in good faith, to consult actively with affected
group(s), with the goal of establishing a working relationship that can
be beneficial to all parties involved” (2000). Quoted in Larry J.
Zimmerman, “A decade after the Vermillion Accord: What Has Changed
and What Has Not?” <i>The Dead and Their Possessions: Repatriation
in Principle, Policy, and Practice,</i> p. 94.<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size="2"><sup>3</sup></font> For
only
the most recent example of this, see Joel Wurl, “Ethnicity as
Provenance: In Search of Values and Principles for Documenting the
Immigrant Experience,” <i>Archival Issues</i>, 29:1 (2005), pp. 65-76.
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="200">--
Kathleen Burns, Archivist
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Yale University
email: <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:kathleen.burns@yale.edu">kathleen.burns@yale.edu</a>
phone: (203) 432-7328
BEINECKE BLOGS
Poetry at Beinecke Library :: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com">http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com</a>
African American Studies at Beinecke Library :: <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com">http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com</a>
Room 26 Cabinet of Curiosities :: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://brblroom26.wordpress.com">http://brblroom26.wordpress.com</a>
</pre>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="200">--
Kathleen Burns, Archivist
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Yale University
email: <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:kathleen.burns@yale.edu">kathleen.burns@yale.edu</a>
phone: (203) 432-7328
BEINECKE BLOGS
Poetry at Beinecke Library :: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com">http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com</a>
African American Studies at Beinecke Library :: <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com">http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com</a>
Room 26 Cabinet of Curiosities :: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://brblroom26.wordpress.com">http://brblroom26.wordpress.com</a>
</pre>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="200">--
Kathleen Burns, Archivist
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Yale University
email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:kathleen.burns@yale.edu">kathleen.burns@yale.edu</a>
phone: (203) 432-7328
BEINECKE BLOGS
Poetry at Beinecke Library :: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com">http://beineckepoetry.wordpress.com</a>
African American Studies at Beinecke Library :: <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com">http://beineckejwj.wordpress.com</a>
Room 26 Cabinet of Curiosities :: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://brblroom26.wordpress.com">http://brblroom26.wordpress.com</a>
</pre>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; ">
<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11">
<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11">
<link rel="File-List"
href="Yale%20asst%20prof%20signature_files/filelist.xml">
<title>Alyssa Mt</title>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas:contacts" name="Sn">
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceType">
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas:contacts" name="middlename"><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas:contacts" name="GivenName">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Alyssa Mt. Pleasant</o:Author>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:LastAuthor>Alyssa Mt. Pleasant</o:LastAuthor>
<o:Revision>7</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>54</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2006-07-05T16:10:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2007-01-31T22:54:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>50</o:Words>
<o:Characters>286</o:Characters>
<o:Company> </o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>335</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.8107</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>75</w:Zoom>
<w:GrammarState>Clean</w:GrammarState>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:S
napToGridInCell/>
<w:ApplyBreakingRules/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object
classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }st2\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#040
0;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType>
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 4.35pt;">
<td
style="border-style: none none double; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color purple; border-width: medium medium 9pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in; height: 4.35pt;"
valign="top" width="240">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td
style="border-style: none none double; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color purple; border-width: medium medium 9pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt; height: 4.35pt;"
valign="top" width="204">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in;"
valign="top" width="240">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st2:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:GivenName
w:st="on">Alyssa</st1:GivenName> <st1:middlename w:st="on">Mt.</st1:middlename></st2:PersonName>
Pleasant, Ph.D.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Assistant Professor</p>
</td>
<td
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;"
valign="top" width="204">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in;" valign="top"
width="240">
<p class="MsoNormal">American Studies Program</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st2:place w:st="on"><st2:PlaceName w:st="on">Yale</st2:PlaceName>
<st2:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st2:PlaceType></st2:place></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.O. Box 208236<br>
New Haven, CT 06520-8236</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">203-436-8169</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top"
width="204">
<p class="MsoNormal">Department of History</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st2:place w:st="on"><st2:PlaceName w:st="on">Yale</st2:PlaceName>
<st2:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st2:PlaceType></st2:place><br>
P.O. Box 208324<br>
New Haven, CT 06520-8324</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in;" valign="top"
width="240">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:alyssa.mt.pleasant@yale.edu">alyssa.mt.pleasant@yale.edu</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top"
width="204">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in;" valign="top"
width="240">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Neka ne ne <st1:Sn w:st="on">hera</st1:Sn>
teh<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top"
width="204">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>