The wyandotte nation library's stories forward: tribal voices in america's ongoing story - a story keepers & story makers initiative will expand learning opportunities for youth and families through…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Wyandotte Nation $141,765 on October 1, 2026, under the Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services program (CFDA 45.311) to establish Stories Forward, a tribal voices initiative expanding learning opportunities for youth and families through library-based storytelling and oral history activities.

The pilot phase includes small-group storytelling and interview workshops where participants learn to ask questions, listen actively, and record short interviews. Based on pilot feedback, the project will expand into regularly scheduled youth and teen storytelling workshops, oral history activities, media literacy instruction, interview preparation, instruction on responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, and workforce and postsecondary readiness activities. The Wyandotte Nation will deliver these services through its library in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, to tribal citizens and the surrounding community.

The award period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028. This is a project grant under the Enhancement Grants track of the Native American Library Services program, which supports improved educational programs and enhanced preservation and revitalization of Native American cultures and languages through competitive peer review.

The wyandotte nation library's stories forward: tribal voices in america's ongoing story - a story keepers & story makers initiative will expand learning opportunities for youth and families through library-based storytelling. The pilot phase will include small-group storytelling and interview workshops where participants learn how to ask questions, listen actively, and record short interviews. Based on feedback from the pilot phase, IT will expand into regularly scheduled youth and teen storytelling workshops, oral history activities, media literacy instruction, interview preparation, instruction on responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, and workforce and postsecondary readiness activities. Through this project, the wyandotte nation will promote access to skills-based learning opportunities for tribal citizens and the surrounding community, addressing an identified interest from area students.