Avenues of mutual respect: opening communication and understanding between Native Americans and archivists

The Protocols for Native American Archival Materials have called upon archivists to acknowledge and respect Native Americans' needs for privacy and control over their culture. While many archivists have protested against the restriction of Native American archival materials, the morals and ethics within the profession are not far from the needs of Native communities. This thesis will examine imperial archive, archival theory, current copyright laws, writings on archival ethics, and case studies of archives and Native communities. This investigation will demonstrate the practicality and application of the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials, and its importance to the archival profession in working with Native American communities by creating an open dialog and mutual understanding.