The TLAM coursework encompasses much more than just a typical program of in-class lectures and readings. It also focuses on the importance of building relationships, networking, advocating for tribal cultural institutions, and partnering with others to bring about greater awareness of tribal libraries, archives, and museums; the professionals that work in these institutions; the services they provide; and the role they play in their communities.
Ongoing Activities
- Maintain class blog and TLAM Student Group pages.
- Visit and assist tribal community partners, including:
- Red Cliff Tribal Library
- Forest County Potawatomi Cultural Center and Reservation
- Menominee Nation
- Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation
- Bad River Tribal Library
- Oneida Nation
- Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services at Baraboo
- Engage and share with other SLIS and UW-Madison students our work and interests in tribal libraries, archives, and museums.
- Attend and help facilitate diversity activities on the UW-Madison campus.
- Participate in and run the TLAM Student Group.
- Some students join the American Indian Library Association.
TLAM Activities Timeline
2013
- January: Began a collaborative archival project with the Oneida Nation Cultural Heritage Department, in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.
- May: Assisted in facilitating the sixth Convening Culture Keepers conference at hosted by the George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center at Lac du Flambeau.
2012
- January: Several TLAM students and SLIS faculty and staff traveled to Red Cliff for a two-day capital campaign workshop with Boris Frank for the proposed Ginanda Gikendaamin community center and library.
- March: Took a class trip to Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.
- April: Traveled to the fourth Convening Culture Keepers at the Forest County Potawatomi Library and Museum.
- November: Traveled to the fifth Convening Culture Keepers hosted by the Oneida Nation.
2011
- Students formed collaborative partnership with the Baraboo Ho-Chunk Wellness and Learning Center.
- March: Visited the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and the Menominee Nation.
- April: Visited Bad River and Red Cliff Ojibwe reservations to learn about current library projects.
- April: Attended meeting of Red Cliff Library Board as part of ongoing partnership with TLAM and Red Cliff.
- April: Assisted in facilitating the second Convening Culture Keepers at Lac Courte Oreilles.
- Spring: Took multiple trips to the Ho-Chunk Youth Services Learning Center at the Ho-Chunk Wellness Center in Baraboo, WI.
- Fall: The UW-Madison Alumni Magazine, OnWisconsin, features an article by Stacy Forster on the work of the TLAM Class: Books and Beyond
- September: TLAM Student Group founded by former TLAM class students.
- October: Assisted in facilitating the third Convening Culture Keepers at Menominee Nation.
2010
- January: Led lunch table talk about TLAM project and activities at UW-Madison All Campus Library Reference Retreat.
- January: Began collaboration with the Langlade County Historical Society to help digitize the Society’s A.J. Kingsbury Photography Collection.
- February: Participated in roundtable discussion session at the 2010 National iConference held at the University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana.
- April: Assisted as Operation Teen Book Drop Liaisons during National Library Week at the Menominee High School Library and Lac Courte Orielles community.
- October: Assisted in facilitating the first Convening Culture Keepers conference hosted by the Oneida Nation.
2009
- Proposed incorporation of TLAM as a regular class to the SLIS Curriculum and Advisory Committees.
- April: Sponsored a public talk on indigenous information issues by Loriene Roy, professor at University of Texas – Austin and past president of the ALA.
- May: Hosted an end of semester Thank You and Renewal potluck for TLAM members, guests, and colleagues
- October: Attended the National Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (TALM) conference in Portland, Oregon
- October: Hosted a SLIS brown bag discussion on the TALM conference and future plans for TLAM class.
- October: Received the WLA Special Service Award for initial partnership and work with Red Cliff at the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) conference Awards Banquet.
- Contributed a case study chapter about the TLAM project for Dr. Loriene Roy’s upcoming book, Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Preserving Our Language, Memories, and Lifeways.
2008
- Awarded the Kauffman Entrepreneurship Community Internship Program grant to work with the Red Cliff community.
- June: Students began visiting Red Cliff community to do a library interest and priorities assessment.