2024 Oral History Association Annual Meeting

Learn how to plan a successful oral history project in partnership with Indigenous communities to go beyond land acknowledgement statements and bridge past, present, and future cross-cultural relationships. Participants will explore a case study from Minnesota, complete a worksheet for their own project idea, and receive a handout with resources and examples.

ABSTRACT: The Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ / Bassett Creek Oral History Project is the first gathering of suburban Indigenous oral histories in the United States or Canada. Over the course of three years, this project convened a diverse group of community partners to hear Indigenous stories and support Indigenous priorities near the Twin Cities in Minnesota. During this hands-on session, a short presentation will explain how to build trust with Indigenous partners, conduct respectful oral histories, and share interviews through outreach programs and podcasts. Session participants will follow along on a guided worksheet and begin drafting their own project ideas. They will also receive a handout that includes resources, links, and examples of the case study’s results. During the Q&A session, participants can dive deeper into the project’s community engagement efforts, including a podcast series, YouTube videos, in-person programming, artwork, newspaper articles, community networking, a 5k run/walk, and more.This case study presents a realistic example of how to support Indigenous priorities by bridging past, present, and future cross-cultural relationships. Through this project, the Indigenous narrators, Hennepin History Museum, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, and other community partners have inspired informal use of the creek’s Dakota name. Some community members are now considering what steps would be required for a legal name change. This ongoing work highlights the role that oral historians can play in gathering partners to move beyond land acknowledgement statements.Through this session, participants will better understand the nuances of conducting oral history projects with Indigenous communities. They can begin planning a similar project for their own community and consider a clear example of how oral histories can enrich outreach, policy, and community partnerships to support Indigenous priorities today.