The Historic Preservation Department is underway with the digitization of artifacts and archives. Archivist, Billie Anderson, has digitized over 500 archival files in our collection thus far and is now in the process of digitizing material objects.

We have partnered with the Emerging Technologies program at the University of Oklahoma Libraries to 3D-scan cultural objects. This project will further preserve our artifacts and make access to our collections more accessible. These 3D images along with our digitized archival collection will be presented in interactive exhibits displayed in the new museum and library, which is set to open later this year.

February 13-17, Historic Preservation Director, Carissa Speck represented Delaware Nation at the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers annual conference in Cherokee, North Carolina. The NATHPO conference is the only national gathering of Tribal, federal, state and industry representatives committed to protecting Native places (pictured below).

March 6-8, Director Carissa Speck, attended the 2023 Bridging the Gap conference in Quapaw, OK. The To Bridge A Gap Meeting was established to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the U.S. Forest Service and federally recognized tribal governments on a variety of cultural and natural resource management issues. The general sessions cover topics on NAGPRA, NHPA, ARPA, Tribal Archaeology, stewardship, and protection of sacred places and natural resources.

March 8-10, Librarian Gina Wooster, Archivist Billie Anderson and Director Carissa Speck attended the Oklahoma Libraries Association annual conference in Norman, Oklahoma. The OLA conference is designed to strengthen the quality of libraries, library services and librarian ship in Oklahoma.

The Joan Subieta Memorial Library invites you to come in and browse the library or use the computers and printer. We have been very busy these last few months. This batch of books is being processed at this time: the Library purchased a variety of 20 children’s; young adult; adult fiction & nonfiction books written by Oklahoma authors from The RoadRunner Press they are based in Oklahoma City, OK. We also received children’s fiction & nonfiction books from First Book, we were able to purchase these books at a discounted rate. We have fiction and nonfiction books that can be checked out, as well as the Native American authors popular at this time (pictured above).

The week of March 26th, Director Carissa Speck, THPO Katelyn Lucas and President Dotson will travel to Princeton, New Jersey to take part in a re-internment of Lenape ancestors at Princeton University along with our sister tribes, the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

Story & Photos by Carissa Speck Historic Preservation Office Director 2/28/2023