Reciprocal Collaboration with Indigenous Partners
2010–2016
Project Description
Roots of Wisdom involved many groups, including leadership from Indigenous Education Institute (IEI). IEI has been investing in the potential of science centers by involving OMSI and others in additional projects they led through NSF-funding: Cosmic Serpent, Native Universe, and IWISE. These IEI-led projects were professional development projects designed to increase capacity for science museums to work with Native and tribal communities
We are honored for the relationships we share with Indigenous partners and for the collaboration on many projects over the years. The Roots of Wisdom project provided an opportunity to focus on reciprocal collaboration between OMSI and Indigenous partners around the United States. For six-years, we partnered with Native communities to create an exhibition where Indigenous partners shared stories in their own voices. Bringing together multiple perspectives of Native and shared science, this project highlighted efforts of multiple Native communities to care for the environment for the benefit of all.
Findings
The project supported professional growth in skills and confidence to collaborate cross-culturally for all partners, non-Native and Native.
Impacts and Outcomes
The Roots of Wisdom Project Team created a legacy document to share lessons learned with museum professionals and educators who are seeking ways to collaborate with Indigenous partners and communities.
Products
The project produced a 2,000-square-foot traveling exhibition, a graphic panel version of the larger exhibition for small venues (especially tribal museums), a website, and educational activities for Native youth. The website includes all videos, audio stories, and digital games from the exhibition.
Partners
Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve
Indigenous Education Institute (IEI)
Pacific American Foundation
Revitalization of Traditional Cherokee Artisan Resources (RTCAR)
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES)
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
Waikalua Loko Fishpond Preservation Society
Advisors
Joanne Jones–Rizzi
Science Museum of Minnesota
Karen Kitchen (Osage), Program Manager, Portland Public Schools Title VII Indian Education Program
Dennis Martinez (Tohono O’odham/Chicano), Indigenous Peoples’ Restoration Network (IPRN)
Takelma Intertribal Project (TIP)
Margaret Mathewson, Ancient Arts Center, Oregon State University
Charles Menzies (Tlingit/Haida), University of British Columbia
Darren Ranco (Penobscot), University of Maine
Theodore Williams, Northwest Indian College
Funders
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL-1010559. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.