Digitization of Historical Documents at NCAI

This guide details the National Congress of American Indians' (NCAI) initiative to digitize its extensive collection of historical documents, which spans 80 years. The NCAI aimed to create a central library of over 4,000 policy statements and resolutions that would facilitate easier access to its rich history. The process involved identifying, collecting, and uploading these documents into Asset Bank, a digital asset management system. By tagging and organizing the entries, the NCAI team enabled members to quickly search for relevant documents using keywords or tribal nation filters. The guide outlines the challenges faced in managing a vast array of paper archives and the solutions implemented to streamline access to historical resources. It also discusses the future plans for expanding the digitized library and making these resources publicly available, thereby enhancing the NCAI's ability to inform present-day activities through storytelling and research.