Alexander Soto
Vina Begay
Jacob Moore
Asserting Cultural Sovereignty in Academia: Why Indigenous Leadership Matters (Day 1) The Protocols of Native American Archival Materials (PNAAM) have challenged non-Indigenous libraries and archival repositories to re-examine internal archival practices towards ethical stewardship of Indigenous information. Despite good intentions, many lack Indigenous leadership in-and-out of their libraries, yet alone Indigenous staff, and many do not have sustained local and regional relationships with Tribal communities. In this presentation, an Indigenous Library Director, Indigenous Archivist and a Vice President and Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs at Arizona State University (ASU) will highlight their collaborative efforts to cultivate meaningful relationships between Tribes and western institutions in order to support cultural sovereignty. In their roundtable discussions, they will highlight how their collaborative efforts have made Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) tangible for Tribal Nations through their operationalizing of PNAAM at ASU Library. Presenters will emphasize: 1) Indigenous Information professionals must be in critical decision-making positions if an organization seeks to develop a culturally responsive service model that supports PNAAM and IDSov; and 2) Native academic executive leaders can best foster and advance institutional-to-government relationships that support Indigenous Data Governance. Primary presenters: Alexander Soto, Director, Labriola National American Indian Data Center – Arizona State University; Vina Begay, Assistant Librarian, Labriola National American Indian Data Center – Arizona State University; Jacob Moore, Vice President and Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs, Arizona State University