About

The Washington State University Pullman campus is located on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and the Palus people. We acknowledge their presence here since time immemorial and recognize their continuing connection to the land, to the water, and to their ancestors.

About the Portal

The Plateau Peoples' Web Portal is a collaboration between the Spokan Tribe of Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe, and the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation at Washington State University.

The Portal implements the collaborative curation method designed and sustained through the CDSC. Using Mukurtu CMS as the platform for the Portal allows tribes to determine culturally appropriate access to their cultural heritage and knowledge. The materials in the Portal have been selected, vetted, and curated by tribal representatives from each tribe. The material in the portal represents the histories, languages, cultural belongings, and contemporary lives of the participating tribes. Many digital heritage items have one or more records associated with them, as well as added traditional knowledge and cultural narratives provided by tribal community members that enhance and enrich understanding to many diverse audiences.

The material in the Portal has been digitally repatriated by repositories including: Washington State University’s Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections, the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, the National Anthropological Archives at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the American Philosophical Society, Gonzaga University Archives & Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, and Confluence.

Statement of Commitment

This statement of commitment outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved in the Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal. The statement addresses project goals, partner contributions, content agreements, and project oversight and organization.

Project History

Washington State University has a signed a Memorandum of Understanding with fifteen Native American tribes in the region.

WSU Pullman is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people, while WSU Vancouver is housed on traditional Cowlitz lands, WSU Tri-Cities is on traditional lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and WSU Spokane on historical Spokane Tribe lands.

Each of the tribes that are signatory to the MOU are either located within the borders of what is today the state of Washington or their aboriginal territories included areas that are now within the boundaries of the state of Washington. Their presence on this land is since time immemorial.

Individual partner tribes on the Portal have signed MOAs and/or other agreements with WSU and partner repositories through their tribal governments.

The statement of commitment was drafted, updated, and vetted by the Portals Tribal Advisory Board.

Contact

Please contact the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation with any questions about the Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal.