Cycles of Learning and Growth: Developing the Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program Guided by Indigenous Perspectives

This article provides lessons learned through four cycles of the Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program at Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation. The author coordinated the hybrid online and in-person training program from 2015-2020, focused on the unique needs of staff at Indigenous archives, libraries, and museums at the beginning of digital projects with unique access considerations. The learning and professional growth of program staff was informed by the participants in the program, whose words and work are highlighted in the article. The author reflects on the program design, curricular outcomes, site visits, building relationships and peer support, and the evolution of the training based on assessment and feedback. Similar to how the TDSCP was built using guidance from existing initiatives, the program and lessons learned can be used as a model for future digital stewardship education, relationship building, and responsive curriculum design. As a program extending over several years and involving many stakeholders, the TDSCP is an example of the many opportunities for collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage organizations