Discovery November 2000

Web-Based Native Cultural Resources Cover Almost Every Topic

Identity, community, information, knowledge‹all those attributes that represent our highest expectations of Web technology can be found in the Native American Web presence. Although high-speed network technology is scarce on reservations and in tribal colleges, there are many Web resources available that promote, explore, and connect native issues. These sites come from a variety of sources and speak to many different groups. They are definitely worth exploring.

Native cultural resources on the Web cover almost every topic. Native American arts, artists and cultural events are promoted through Native America Online with links to artist profiles, galleries, powwows and other events. Medicinal plants and their native uses can be searched in the Cornell/Agricultural Research Service database of Medicinal Plants of Native America (MPNADB). The Native Languages Page lists resources for many peoples; some include online audio dictionaries or bibliographies of printed resources. NativeWeb's Literature database locates poetry and short stories from groups in the Americas and beyond.

For native education information, turn to the Index of Native American Education Resources, part of a much larger index to native Web information, which is part of the even larger WWW Virtual Library project. In the Education index, links to teacher resources include Turtle Tracks, a native newsletter for children, and Oyate, a native organization focused on accurate portrayal of native peoples. You will also find links to specific higher education programs such as the Montana State University Native American Studies program whose site highlights student clubs and services. Tribal college sites are also easily located through this index. The colorful Little Big Horn College pages provide Crow census information, relation tracing, a Crow placenames database, and much more. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium tracks important education and funding news from its site.

Government Web sites for Native Americans provide important program and governance information. Specific tribal pages such as the official site of the Blackfeet Nation explain tribal government and list current council members, provide economic development information, and retell the history of the nation. Notable Web sites from federal agencies include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tracing hot issues and topics of interest like gaming compacts and statistics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides administration for Native Americans, promoting social and economic self-sufficiency. Code Talk is a federal interagency Web site that provides information for Native American communities, including such issues as housing, health, children and the environment.

Web clearinghouses for native peoples information are numerous. NativeWeb has created a "cyber-place for Earth's indigenous peoples" covering all lands and all topics. Aboriginal Connections is a directory of native-focused subjects such as law, media and business. Native American Sites provides very useful lists of native organizations, businesses, journals, and other Web resources.

For help locating more information, call or stop in at the Renne Library reference desk. If you find Web sites that you think might be of interest to the MSU community, please send me an e-mail message at alijz@montana.edu.

Jan Zauha is a reference and information resource development librarian at the MSU Libraries.