The native village of afognak will improve collection stewardship and digital access while prioritizing the preservation of existing historical, linguistic, cultural and tribal documents

The Native Village of Afognak received a $149,558 Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services program (CFDA 45.311), effective October 1, 2025, with completion targeted by September 30, 2026. The award supports digital archiving and collection stewardship initiatives at the Nadia Mullan Alutiiq Heritage Library in Kodiak, Alaska, prioritizing the preservation of historically significant Afognak materials including genealogical records, ancestral oral histories, Alutiiq language documentation, and photographs related to the 1964 Great Earthquake.

Project deliverables focus on implementing digital archiving methods to preserve and provide accessible formats of the library's collection while ensuring safekeeping through multiple storage locations and formats. This initiative aligns with the Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program objective of enhancing preservation and revitalization of Native American cultures and languages, enabling the tribal organization to make irreplaceable cultural and linguistic resources available for current and future generations of community members.

The nadia mullan alutiiq heritage library houses a rich collection of resources, many of which have not been properly archived, including irreplaceable afognak genealogy, oral history from ancestors, alutiiq language sessions, and photographs of the afognak village that was destroyed in 1964 great earthquake. The purpose of this project is to prioritize the preservation of these types of materials through digital archiving methods. To ensure their safekeeping and accessibility, project leads will archive these valuable resources in multiple formats and locations. These efforts will ensure that the materials are preserved for future generations.