Culture Keepers Collective
The Culture Keepers Collective is a Native-led collective that serves the needs of cultural workers to advance their communities’ work within tribal libraries, archives, and museums.
The Culture Keepers Collective is administered by WiLS and advised by an advisory council that includes:
- Cassy Leeport, TLAM & iSchool Library Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Adrienne Thunder, Hoocąk Waaziija Haci Language Division Program Manager
- Monique Tyndall, Director of Cultural Affairs for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans
The work of the Collective encompasses the Mukurtu Midwest Hub as well as other digital stewardship project partnerships and grant-funded initiatives.
Current Projects and Updates
The Culture Keepers Collective was proud to assist in bringing together Wisconsin’s tribal librarians, archivists, museum curators, and cultural heritage workers at the Culture Keepers Re-Convening in April 2024. This event gave attendees the opportunity to learn from one another, build relationships, share experiences and meals, and leave refreshed to continue the work ahead. We are currently planning for the 2025 Culture Keepers Convening and will continue to keep the community updated.
Be part of the Culture Keepers Collective coffee hour! Spend some time connecting with fellow cultural workers over a cup of coffee (or other drink of your choice!) from the comfort of your own space. This is the perfect opportunity to engage with Native Nation community members and allies, share ideas, discuss projects, address challenges, and foster meaningful connections. The Coffee Hour will occur once a month on the third Wednesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. (CST). Sign up for the Culture Keepers Collective mailing list to learn more.
The Culture Keepers Collective and Recollection Wisconsin are partnering to place student interns in tribal cultural heritage organizations as part of the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative. Recollection Wisconsin pairs paid student interns with cultural heritage organizations for semester-long digitization and description projects; each semester, 1-2 seats are reserved for tribal organizations and Wisconsin Native nations.
WiLS provides the following services for the Culture Keepers Collective:
- Education and help with culturally relevant programming and services through regional training events, resources, and consultations;
- Collaboration around the unique needs of the Native Nations digital stewardship work with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous institutions;
- Sustaining the Mukurtu Midwest Hub for collaborative use and as a portal for Wisconsin Indigenous culture keepers to share materials in culturally appropriate ways; and,
- Advocating on contemporary issues related to developing and sustaining Indigenous data sovereignty of Wisconsin’s Native Nations.
- Meeting management
- Building relationships
