Tribal newspapers, magazines, and newsletters are an untapped trove of writing by Native Americans, perhaps nowhere more so than in New England, where Native authors have been too often excluded from mainstream publishing venues and opportunities. Many people have heard of The Cherokee Phoenix, begun in the 1820s, and often said to have been the first Native American newspaper. Fewer have heard of The Narragansett Dawn, published between 1935 and 1936 in Rhode Island, and read by Eleanor Roosevelt and other prominent people interested in Native American issues. That magazine included essays, stories, poetry and language lessons written by Narragansett and other indigenous people.
Across New England, there have been dozens more periodical publications in which tribal people continue to communicate their news; circulate traditional stories, recipes and other knowledge; and sustain their communities both at home and in diaspora.
This exhibit seeks to digitize and share (where appropriate and permissible) some of these remarkable regional periodicals. You can see a preliminary inventory of newsletters and other publications here. Tribal historians, librarians and others who are interested in digitizing such publications--or who would like help digitizing papers in your collections--are encouraged to contact Siobhan.Senier@unh.edu.
Littlefield, Daniel F., and James W. Parins. American Indian and Alaska Native Newspapers and Periodicals. Greenwood Press, 1986. Print.