Preservation Assessment

FAIN: PG-252764-17

Oglala Lakota College (Kyle, SD 57752-3094)
Tawa Ducheneaux (Project Director: April 2016 to January 2018)

A preservation assessment of language, cultural, and historical collections in the archives of Oglala Lakota College. Documentary materials represent traditional and cultural knowledge of the Oyate Kin people, one of the seven bands of the Lakota of the Northern Plains region. Around 500 linear feet of archival records include institutional records of the college, tribal government records, maps, newspapers, photographs, and audiovisual items from the years 1940-2000.

The Woksape Tipi Archives houses unique language, cultural, and historical materials of the Oglala Lakota Nation. The diverse collections are an invaluable cultural resource for the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation and the students, faculty, and staff of Oglala Lakota College (OLC), and important to the national and international communities who explore and write about indigenous topics. Many of these materials do not exist elsewhere, making preservation of utmost importance. OLC will contract a Conservator to conduct an onsite assessment of our Archive’s collections of 2000 linear feet and do a report including institutional information, staffing , facilities, environment, security, collection policies, disaster preparedness, care of collections, summary of needs, recommendations for storage, preservation and display. We will develop a strong needs-based plan for approaching the varied needs of the collections based upon the assessment report.