[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2005-12-21

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  New state archivist appointed
2.  Reciprocal agreements announced
3.  AASLH releases 2006 workshop schedule
4.  Oregon Indian education guide available


NEW STATE ARCHIVIST APPOINTED

Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has announced the appointment of Mary Beth Herkert as the new State Archivist, effective immediately.

"Mary Beth has worked at every level of our organization, she knows Archives inside and out, and she will make an excellent State Archivist," said Bradbury. 

Herkert was chosen after an extensive national search to replace Roy Turnbaugh, who retired in September 2005 after 20 years as State Archivist. During Turnbaugh's tenure, Herkert worked her way up through every level of the Archives, from processing archivist to manager of the records management unit. Herkert holds a Masters degree in history from the State University of New York, Albany. She is a Certified Records Manager and has been active in numerous professional organizations. She currently serves on the board of the National Association of Government Records Administrators.

The Secretary of State's Archives Division provides public access to the permanently valuable records of Oregon government. Archives houses many of the state's oldest documents, publishes the biennial Blue Book, and provides comprehensive online historical research guides and learning exhibits. Its website is located at http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/


RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS ANNOUNCED

In a multi-state gesture timed to pay homage to the Lewis and Clark  bicentennial commemoration and the Walla Walla Treaty Council sesquicentennial, the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute has entered into reciprocal membership agreements with the Oregon and Washington State Historical Societies.  Among other provisions, the agreements provide 
free admission to their museums for members of any one of the respective institutions.  Tamástslikt's membership includes the 2,400 enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), which own and operate the museum.

"Both the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Walla Walla Council were examples of government to government relations," said Antone Minthorn, chairman of the CTUIR and one of the agreement signers.  "With the anniversaries of these events happening simultaneously, it seemed as though there was an opportunity to make a formal gesture with regard to the relationship between our respective historical institutions."

In a cooperative effort in 2001 the three museums joined to develop and market "Wrapped in Tradition", an exhibit of Dale Chihuly art and heirloom Indian blankets collected by Chihuly, according to John Chess, Tamástslikt development officer.  "Prior to and since then, the museums have provided loans of artifacts to complement each other's offerings. 
These accords build upon the relationships that these state level institutions and our Tribally owned and operated facility have established," said Chess.

Recently, Tamástslikt and the Oregon Historical Society agreed to co-publish the Tribes' soon to be released history book that includes a partnership with the University of Washington Press.  Umatilla Tribal representatives have served on the board of Oregon Historical Society.


AASLH RELEASES 2006 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

The American Association for State and Local History is offering workshops and seminars in archives and collections management, digitization, historic house museums, and related topics during 2006.  

Scholarships are available for new professionals, minority professionals and small museum staff to attend. 

For more information, visit http://www.aaslh.org/workshop.htm or  contact program associate Bethany Hawkins at 615-320-3203 or by email to hawkins at aaslh.org 



OREGON INDIAN EDUCATION GUIDE AVAILABLE

The Oregon Department of Education has made available on its website the updated version of "Indians in Oregon Today," a middle school-high school curriculum.

"The main purpose of this publication is to provide current, accurate information to teachers and students about the Indian tribes living in the state of Oregon," its introduction states. "Too often information about Indian tribes is stereotypic, inaccurate, and outdated."

In addition to guidelines for teaching about Indian culture, the 139-page publication provides maps, charts and activities to help teach 10 concepts related to Indians in Oregon. There are also five appendices with additional information.

The latest edition of the publication was produced by the Oregon Department of Education, the Government to Government Indian Education Center, and the Oregon Indian Education Association.

The publication is available at http://www.ode.state.or.us/opportunities/grants/nclb/title_vii/indiansinoregontoday.pdf or by contacting the Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97310-0203.
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission, which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us