Indigenous Geography/Geografía Indígena has funding for 3–4 new community profiles! See guidelines below.

Indigenous Geography/Geografía Indígena, a bilingual electronic initiative of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), welcomes visitors to a virtual world where they are introduced to environmental and geographic origins of cultures, in the words of indigenous community members.

Photographs, sound clips, narration, and geographic data—provided in collaboration with Native communities of the Western Hemisphere—present a larger view of indigenous ways of life, and issues affecting indigenous people today. Essays by community members address the themes of community, economy, ritual, seasons, origins, the living world, place, and family.

Indigenous Geography/Geografía Indígena features the Native voice, offering a comparative glossary of 100 words in English, Spanish, and a variety of Native languages. In addition, there are resources and links to community websites and objects from the museum’s collection.

Of special interest to educators, Indigenous Geography / Geografía Indígena includes curriculum guides for each community profile. Each community profile offers educational materials for grades 4–8 and 9–12. In addition, introductory lessons assist educators in teaching multiculturalism and in recognizing the similarities among communities.

Communities participating in the project are expected to complete the following, within one year, for the website profile:

Identify one individual as the community host responsible for coordinating all community elements (others may participate, but one individual will be the primary contact). The community host will:

• author and/or facilitate the eight essays (the host may seek input, quotes, or writing from other community members)
• review lessons for accuracy of community content
• identify participants
• approve materials
• coordinate site visits and media work
• identify additional resources
• obtain all permissions and approvals for community items
• Develop a total of eight essays on the following topics:
  1. community
  2. economy
  3. family
  4. living world
  5. origins
  6. place
  7. ritual
  8. seasons
• Conduct original photography, audio, and video work in the community (Note: NMAI will assist with media if requested. One option is a mini-workshop for community youth, preferably a middle or high school class interested in working with digital media or photography, conducted during the site visit.)
• Identify teachers or educators in or affiliated with the community who can write or assist in the development of the lesson components
• Identify a Native speaker who is willing to record the vocabulary
• Facilitate the visit by NMAI staff who will guide the community in developing their profile and con­duct any necessary training
• Obtain all needed permissions and approvals for profile content

NMAI funding will cover contracts for the com­munity host and educators, including local travel and consultations. NMAI will also fund, external to these contracts, translation of the community site into Spanish; acquisition of any images required; layout and production of the lessons; materials for complet­ing the media training; NMAI staff travel for the site visit and training; audio and video editing; and website maintenance. NMAI funding does not cover equipment or software.

If your community would like to be a part of this exciting project, please submit the
application form by April 15, 2008.

Contact
Indigenous Geography/Geografía Indígena
National Museum of the American Indian
Smithsonian Institution
Community and Constituent Services Department
Fourth Street and Independence Avenue, SW
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Phone: 301-238-1540
Fax: 202-633-6899
Email: NMAI-IndGeog@si.edu