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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan is pleased to announce the introduction of Maawn Doobiigeng, the new classification system of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal
Libraries. The three primary systems of classification that were in place – the Dewey Decimal System (DDC), the Library of Congress Classification System (LCC), and the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) – are inherently damaging to Indigenous people
and are insufficient for accurately describing and providing access to Native topics. In 2019, The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries were awarded the IMLS National Leadership Grant to facilitate the creation of a new classification system by members of the
community. As of April 2024, this new system, titled Maawn Doobiigeng (Gather Together), has been created and is being implemented into the libraries.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Arionna Crispin, project facilitator mentions, “When I heard about a project that was aiming to decolonize and Indigenize the Tribal Libraries, I knew I had to be a part
of it. I learned so much about how harmful the previously utilized classification systems are, and I worked with truly amazing people in the creation of this new system. I’m grateful to have been a part of something so incredible and revolutionary, and I hope
this work inspires others to make similar changes.”</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries were awarded the National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum
and Library Services (IMLS) in 2019 with the purpose of addressing the question: “How can tribal libraries use traditional ways of knowing and being to break free of the colonialist epistemology of existing library organizational systems that reinforce a damaging
worldview?”</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There were four phases of the grant project. The first phase was to
<b>Assess</b> the cataloging and classification systems currently in place through a decolonizing lens. Next, the team had to
<b>Create</b> a system of organization for cataloging and classifying library materials according to Anishinaabe ways of knowing and being. This was followed by having the ability to
<b>Implement</b> this system to decolonize and indigenize the Tribal Libraries collections. Finally, gathering data to
<b>Analyze</b> results and share documentation that outlines how this project was conducted, provided a framework that other libraries could use as a template for decolonizing the knowledge organization of their collections.</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Anne Heidemann, tribal librarian shares, “Over the years of doing the work of cataloging and classifying the
books and other materials in the Tribal Libraries, it became clear to me that the existing systems weren’t working well for the community I serve, which led me to write the application for the IMLS National Leadership Grant.</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Heidemann continues explaining, “The opportunity to turn this work over to the community, to see dedicated
community members gather to use their knowledge and experience to create an entirely new-to-libraries classification system, was so exciting and truly an honor. The Tribal Libraries team has now begun the work of reclassifying all the items in the collection,
and we look forward to seeing the community enjoy using Maawn Doobiigeng in their libraries.”</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A work group of community members was established to create a new system of organization for cataloging and
classifying library materials according to Anishinaabe ways of knowing and being. The work group created this new system, Maawn Doobiigeng, based on the seven original clans and their respective responsibilities, as described in the “Mishomis Book” by Edward
Benton-Banai, and based on the cultural knowledge of the group members. The clan responsibilities were adapted into subcategories that the committee felt best represent both the clan and the types of knowledge traditionally shared in books and libraries. Careful
thought was put into each clan and subcategory, with the understanding that it may need additions or adjustments after implementation. It was important to the committee that the new classification system also double as a teaching tool, with users of the libraries
gaining knowledge of the clans and the Anishinaabemowin language.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Please contact Anne Heidemann, Tribal Librarian, at (989) 775-4519 or at
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u><a href="mailto:aheidemann@sagchip.org" id="OWAd52e436c-3b1a-d516-5930-b88b8ed0b75d" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-loopstyle="linkonly">aheidemann@sagchip.org</a></u></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> for
more information on the announcement. </span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries include the public Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Library (SCTL), the preK-5<sup>th</sup> grade
Saginaw Chippewa Academy elementary school library (SCA), and the public two-year community college Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College library (SCTC). For classification, the former two used DDC, the latter used LCC, and all used LCSH, all of which employ colonialist
logic to classify and describe items relating to Indigenous people.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums and related
organizations. The agency’s mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Its grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that
make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u><a href="http://www.imls.gov/" id="OWAd0b7d5f2-bb1d-6d27-19e3-4b5372f7cb41" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-loopstyle="linkonly">www.imls.gov</a></u></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.</span></p>
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<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Anne Heidemann, Tribal Librarian (she/her)</span></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Gindaaso-gamik - Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries</span></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: blue;"><u><a href="mailto:aheidemann@sagchip.org" id="OWA2ff5a1d6-cf31-afbc-017d-37aec3cb1094" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: blue; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-loopstyle="linkonly">aheidemann@sagchip.org</a></u></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> -
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: blue;"><u><a href="mailto:aheidemann@sagchip.edu" id="OWA9cdcfa86-828a-0e16-ede6-77c81f2c9828" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: blue; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-loopstyle="linkonly">aheidemann@sagchip.edu</a></u></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">
</span></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">989-775-4519 * 989-317-4789</span></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u><a href="https://saginaw.ploud.net/" id="OWA525e8453-2401-ecfd-9bed-1cdd5aca42ea" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-loopstyle="linkonly">saginaw.ploud.net</a></u></span></p>
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