Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute

Cultural Heritage Preservation through Digital Technology
School of Information · University of Michigan

• A Short Introduction to CHPI
• 1998 - Navajo Nation
• 1999 - Michigan Upper Peninsula
• 2000 - Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana - SI Workshop Class
• 2001 - Digital Collectives in Indigenous Cultures and Communities
• 2002 - Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana - SI Website Upgrade Project

The first Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute, a one-week technology and culture workshop for youth and their teachers was held June 21-26, 1998 at Diné College, in Tsaile, Arizona. During the week, twenty-two participants from the Navajo Nation learned about Diné culture and history and how to use information technology to document and record their cultural heritage. Specifically, they learned how to use the Internet and other digital technology tools to share their heritage with each other and with others by using the World Wide Web. By the end of the Institute, each school group of participants created a web site project based on Diné culture using information and skills they learned during the Institute.

The second Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute was held in May and June of 1999 in Ann Arbor and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Institute was presented during two workshops; the first, focused on digital technology and the Internet was held at the University of Michigan School of Information May 6-8. The second workshop, held in the Upper Peninsula June 21-23, focused on learning about and documenting Anishinaabe cultural heritage. 1999's participants are from Michigan's Upper Peninsula Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Bay Mills Indian Community.

During 2000, six SI graduate students, an SI postgraduate intern, an emerita University of Michigan librarian, a UM Library librarian and an SI faculty member worked with library and archival staff and collections at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, MT.  Work continues on building electronic resources and  training and supporting staff.

Presented by the School of Information at the University of Michigan.
Funded by a gift from the Microsoft Corporation with continuing support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
Contact: Professor Maurita Holland, tel. 734-647-7650.