California Indian Museum and Cultural Center

The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center will partner with the National Indian Justice Center to create and pilot an online training program to build the consultation and coordination skills of tribal museum professionals. Because tribal museums operate under the auspices of sovereign tribal nations, skills in government-to-government communications with other entities are essential for effective planning, management and operations. Project leaders will work with an advisory committee to identify best practices in tribal consultation to guide the development of the online training program: "Protecting Our Legacies: Liaison Skills for Tribal Museum Personnel." The course will be piloted at two test sites in California with extensive evaluation designed to validate its effectiveness. The course will then be disseminated statewide, potentially providing over 30 tribal museums with the essential skills necessary for consultation and coordination protocols that consider local resources and concerns.