https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKjzgUggxM4
On October 6-7, 2016, SPOHP visited Duckwater, Nevada, to conduct an oral history workshop in the first stage of an ongoing consultation with the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe. The Duckwater Shoshone are beginning a tribal history project in an effort to preserve the knowledge of Tribal elders as well as record important information about cultural sites and Shoshone place names.
The workshop focused on the unique challenges of approaching an oral history framework in a culture historically steeped in oral tradition. SPOHP staff collaborated with Shoshone Tribal members on developing release forms and archival strategies, and they presented recording and technology strategies that can be used for collecting oral histories. Shoshone Tribal members and SPOHP staff also considered ways to get tribal youth involved in the interviewing process. Attendees of the workshop also explored possibilities for future digital humanities projects with interviews that will be collected.
Assistant Director Ryan Morini, Digital Humanities Coordinator Deborah Hendrix, and graduate coordinators Mike Barry and Johanna Mellis traveled to Nevada to attend the workshop. Mike Barry commented, “A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to join the SPOHP team on a trip to the Duckwater Shoshone reservation. We spent two sessions together discussing oral history techniques, working with new technologies and storytelling in general. We had a great time learning from the Shoshone and enjoying the beautiful Nevada scenery. I’m sure I speak for the rest of the crew in stating, we look forward to returning very soon!”
Staff will be returning for a second workshop session later in the academic year.