Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute

Cultural Heritage Preservation through Digital Technology
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A Short Introduction to CHPI

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute

The first 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. Learn more about the 1998 Navajo Nation CHPI on the project website.

The second CHPI was held in May and June of 1999 in Ann Arbor and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Institute was presented as two workshops; the first, focused on digital technology and the Internet. It 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. Learn more about the 1999 Michigan Upper Peninsula CHPI on the project website.

Crow Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute
Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana
Spring-Fall 2000

In May 2000, a School of Information Practical Engagement Workshop class was held at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, MT on the Crow reservation. During the six-day workweek, graduate students in the School of Information's Master's program worked with Professor Maurita Holland, SI Research Intern Kari Smith (MSI, '98), and emerita librarian Sharon Balius (AMLS, '72), on projects that included: developing collection policy statements, creating an approval plan with a vendor, updating the reference and children's collections, developing electronic resources, improving access to periodicals and processing approximately 35,000 volumes of gift materials. In addition to working in the College Library, Smith and student Cris Paschild worked with College Archivist Magdalene Medicine Horse Moccasin to develop the Archives Policy and Proceedures Manual and process collections. Holland noted that in her daily class at the reservation, she emphasized organization and management and encouraged discussion of the previous day's experiences. "Teaching in a living laboratory is a wonderful way to reinforce classroom theory and principles."

The website also documents the tremendous follow-up work done by the emerita UM librarian and a University Library cataloger from October through November 2000. Work continues on building electronic resources and  training and supporting staff at Little Big Horn College library and archives. Learn more about this project on the project website.

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.