Library Research Guides
In 2015, Assistant Professor of Alaska Native Languages X̱'unei - Lance A. Twitchell secured grant funds from the Rasmuson Foundation to help create a new centerpiece for Egan Library—the Cyril George Alaska Native Knowledge Center. This space will honor Ḵaalḵáawu Cyril George, a Tlingit leader from the Deisheetaan Clan of Angoon, who passed away in 2014. As X̱'unei wrote in the grant application, this project will “continue to reshape our campus in ways that focus energy on the visibility and centrality of indigenous voices.” This project is also supported by private donations.
After consultation with Library management, Alaska Native faculty and staff leaders, and UAS Facilities Planning staff, a space on the Main Level of the Library was selected as the future home of the Cyril George Collection. This space is literally right at the heart of the library, extending from behind the Reference Desk to the Reading Alcove and also repurposing a portion of the library currently used for microform collections.
Gift and grant funds will be used to purchase new shelving for the Cyril George Collection. The collection itself will initially be drawn from the Egan Library’s current collection of books and media on Alaska Native cultures, as well as on language revitalization and indigenous peoples worldwide. There will also be areas for study. In the future, there is interest in adding additional media stations and new furnishings, as well as continuing to grow the collection. Future funding will also be sought to enhance the space, potentially including the creation of four Tlingit houseposts.
The Library is aiming to have the Cyril George Alaska Native Knowledge Collection in place during Fall 2016.
Library Main Level showing future home for the Cyril George Collection
After much moving and work, detailed on the previous tabs of this guide, the initial Cyril George Alaska Native Knowledge Center collection and study space has been completed. Responses have been positive, materials are being browsed and circulated, and the space is frequently being used by students studying.
The next stage of this special collection and study space is to upgrade it to the Cyril George Center for Indigenous Knowledge. The university has applied for a Strengthening Institutional Programs Title III grant to fund the transformation of this space in the library into a Clan House, including the Cyril George collection, a language instruction classroom, and other gathering and study space.
Update: although this SIP grant application was unsuccessful, the university is considering pursuing this again either via a SIP grant or from another funding source. The Cyril George Indigenous Knowledge Center is likely an item on the next Campus Master Plan.
From the SIP application: updated floor plan, library main level, focusing on the Cyril George Indigenous Knowledge Center
Research Guides by Egan Library | University of Alaska Southeast are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0