Perspectives on tribal archives

Abstract

Tribal archives are an essential resource for documenting cultural history. This article explores the essential archival functions of a tribal repository and addresses special concerns tribal archivists may face in managing these unique institutions. Tribal archives are growing in number, sparking new initiatives for training and collaboration among those tribes that house archives. As more and more documentation becomes available in electronic form, more repositories feel the pressure to contribute material. Electronic media and the Internet pose a number of concerns and possibilities for tribal archives and tribes as a whole. Funding is perhaps the most important factor in supporting digitization projects. There are a number of ways that archives, libraries and museums of tribes can obtain financial support. Funding agencies such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Park Service, and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission all administer both competitive and non‐competitive grants in support of museums, libraries and archives.