2004 Native Americans and Photography Symposium Dena Thomas Session 4

In this presentation, librarian Dena Thomas gives an overview of the archival work of currently being done with photographs a the Venito Garcia Library and Archives on the Tohono O'odham Nation. She details the community's willingness to donate family photographs, which plays a central role in promoting community and preserving tribal histories.
Dena Thomas (Tohono O’odham) is cultural resources technician at the Venito Garcia Library and Archives where she provides and collects information on Tohono O’odham culture, language and history. She worked as a community consultant for the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, for an exhibition at the new museum. She consulted with Tohono O’odham elders on the content of the exhibition and selected objects for inclusion. As a member of the Museum Committee for the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center, she is working on the creation of a new tribal museum. She is currently earning a library certification from Northland Pioneer College.