ATSIDA presentation at the Native American Roundtable on Archives, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference
Kirsten Thorpe, ATSIDA Project Officer, recently attended the Society of American Archivists Conference (SAA) in Chicago. Kirsten was invited by the Native American Archives Roundtable to do a presentation on ATSIDA and to exchange information on the Australian landscape in relation to protocols for archives and libraries. The Roundtable serves as a forum for creating dialogue on mutual respect for the record, and is made up of members of the profession who have an interest in Native American archival issues.
There were a number of events hosted by the Roundtable at the Chicago Conference including the Annual Roundtable meeting, a Protocol working group meeting and a Forum on Protocols for Native American Archival Materials.
Native American Archives Roundtable, Society of American Archivists Conference 2011
The Forum was the final of three hosted during the SAA Annual Conference, the previous two being held in 2009 and 2010, to encourage dialogue in the profession concerning best practice for culturally responsive care and use of Native American archival material held by non-tribal institutions. The 2011 session focussed on the future, and the importance for the Roundtable in gaining support for the principles and spirit of the Protocol document, that was put to the SAA Council for adoption in 2006. The Protocols for Native American Archival Materials can be accessed on online.
Kirsten also took the opportunity to share information on the work ATSILIRN at the conference, including discussing updates on the Protocol revamp, and the new focus on the digital environment. Kirsten also met with members of the Roundtable to discuss the development of the International Indigenous Archives network. The web site is currently under development with Dr Shannon Faulkhead with the support of the National Archives of Australia Ian Maclean Research Award.
Roundtable members Ann Massmann, Ally Krebs & Erika Castano at the Field Museum, Chicago
The conference and meetings presented a wonderful opportunity for sharing and exchanging information internationally in relation to developments with managing Indigenous archival material.