Archives Management Training for the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley

FAIN: PG-50189-07

Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley (Big Pine, CA 93513-0700)
Bill Helmer (Project Director: May 2006 to April 2009)

A workshop to train staff in the care of materials that document the history and culture of the tribe including archaeological artifacts, oral histories, manuscripts, and recordings of Yokut and Paiute songs.

The project consists of a two-day, customized archives management training workshop for six staff members and one cultural committee member at the Big Pine Reservation. In addition, a few basic archival supplies and books will be purchased per the recommendations of an archival consultant of the tribe, who has been funded by a grant from the National Archives and Records Administration's program, National Historic Publications and Records Commission. The Big Pine Tribal Historic Preservation Office is now actively obtaining manuscripts, photographs, audio recordings, and books pertaining to the culture and history of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe in particular, and the Owens Valley Paiute in general. Besides the obvious importance to tribal members, this growing collection is important for researchers because many rare photographs, audio recordings, and obscure publications are now preserved in one location. It is important for the tribe to learn state-of-the-art procedures for protecting these collections for present and future generations.