Meskwaki Nation

The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, the only federally recognized tribe in Iowa, established the Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum in 1992. Since that time, the tribe has actively collected approximately 500 artifacts and documents pertaining to tribal history, and created museum displays on tribal history using these artifacts. The purpose of this grant is to train the tribe's museum staff, an intern, volunteers, and two high school students on proper collections care and object-handling techniques. A contract conservator will conduct a workshop on the care of Native costume collections, as well as provide a formal analysis of the museum's storage and exhibition facilities and collections care policies and procedures. This grant will make it possible to stabilize approximately 10 to 20 artifacts. Supplies and materials needed to stabilize artifacts on display and in storage will be purchased.