Activating the Oren Lyons Archive and Research Project

Climate Justice—Supports Indigenous knowledge and equitable land governance to address environmental priorities.

Indigenous Sovereignty and Diplomacy — Preserves the historical record of Indigenous nationhood, international advocacy, and the defense of self-governance and treaty rights.

New Humanities Scholarship—Provides essential primary-source material for scholars seeking insights into traditional Indigenous perspectives and new context for engaged humanities globally and within the domestic U.S.

Cultural Preservation and Haudenosaunee Teachings—Secures a priceless collection of cultural knowledge for posterity, providing educational resources for future generations button:

PHASE 1: Initial Curation and Preservation

A. Pre-Sort—Support immediate inventory, sifting, and curator consultation to assess the collection and preserve its condition for longterm scholarly purposes. Oren will personally ensure cultural materials are sorted and stored appropriately according to agreement protocols and shared management principles.With a foundational stewardship grant, Oren and/or his appointed representatives will lead and execute this portion of the effort.

B. Archival Processing—Special Collections will process the collection to the highest level of detail (estimating 20 hours per linear foot). Given the importance of the collection, expected research interest, and the need to ensure culturally sensitive materials are identified and properly stewarded, a high level of processing is required.

PHASE 2: Opening the Door, Extending the Reach

Research and Scholarship—In collaboration with Special Collections, the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice (CGIC) will lead efforts to promote indepth research of this unique archive through funding-supported initiatives(fellowships, workshops,symposia) and provide instruction for curriculum development by integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into environmental studies, social sciences, humanities, law and policy. Syracuse University’s location provides a key element for collaboratively activating the archive. It isin the heart of Haudenosaunee Territory, proximate to the contemporary communities which represent the home base for much of Lyons’ activism

Programming and Exhibition—The CGIC will foster greater public engagement with the archive and its teachings. It will collaborate on public exhibitions, digital interpretation experiences, and high-profile public lecture series to advance understandings of the resources contained in the Oren Lyons Archive.

Digitization and Global Access—Syracuse University Libraries will create a state-of-the-art digital portal to make collection assets available to global researchers, policymakers and tribal governments worldwide.

Collection Stewardship—In collaboration with the Onondaga Nation, we seek to create permanent library staff positions for the long-term conservation and specialized collection development (including oral histories), to sustain the collection over time and expand culturally-appropriate access to it.

PHASE 3: Envisioning the Future Together

Collaborative Space Development—We envision exploring and developing a dedicated environment for the archive that reflects shared values and collaborative stewardship. This visioning process will bring together University and Onondaga Nation leadership to determine the most appropriate and culturally respectful approach to housing this important collection.

The collaborative planning process will explore possibilities for:

• Enhanced long-term preservation and access.
• Co-governance models that honor Indigenous practices and spiritual connections.
• Public engagement opportunities that educate visitors on TEK and Onondaga Nation history.
• Spaces designed in partnership that serve both scholarly research and community needs.

Together with stewarding the Oren Lyons Archive and Research Project, we seek to support a vibrant ecosystem for indigenous scholarship by:

Securing funding to formally launch collaborations between the archive and faculty from the Center for Global Indigenous Culture and Environmental Justice, embedding archive access into courses and programs. Supporting Syracuse University's Haudenosaunee Promise Scholarship that allows students from the Six Nations to attend the University tuition-free, making it one of the nation’s leading programs for Indigenous students. Establish an endowment or dedicated fund to safeguard the program's sustainability and support its development to meet rising enrollment and resource needs.