Running Head: WITHOUT A RESERVATION LIBRARY

Without a Reservation Library:

Examining Library Use of Kansas

Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox Nation Women

Sara E. Linden

Emporia State University

Abstract

This is a proposal for a multi-method project to investigate the library use of three

Native American nations’ women residing on reservations in Kansas. The literature review

covers two areas: an introduction to the concepts of intersectionality and a brief review of

libraries’ relations with Native Americans. This will be a multi-method study, including both

action research and a qualitative, library service evaluation focus group. Goals of focus group

include finding if the offered outreach programs meet the needs of the women adequately and

another will be to identify areas in which the women offer critiques or suggestions. This study

is limited to only the Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox women and the Morrill Public Library,

library located near the reservations.

Keywords: reservation, women, Native American, library, Kickapoo, Iowa, Sac & Fox
 Without a Reservation Library:

Examining Library Use of Kansas Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox Nation Women

Introduction

This is a proposal for a multi-method project to investigate the library use of Kansas Sac

and Fox reservation women. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Native Americans make up

less than one percent of Kansas’ population and are extremely underserved and

underprivileged in many areas (2000). Intersectionality, a process whereby different facets of

an individual’s life meet and cause an effect, compounds the experiences of Native American

women, resulting in lives affected by complex systems of oppression.

In their very communities, households and surroundings, these systems of oppression leads

to serious challenges posed to Native American women. National Congress of American Indians

Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson said “reports reflect a troubling degree of inequality for

Native American women in the areas of political participation, employment and earnings, social

and economic autonomy, and health and well being.” One in four Native American women in

the U.S. live in poverty. Nationally, Native American women hold four-year college degrees at

half the rate for all women. Native American women are also dramatically under-represented in

elected office, with only 10 Native American women serving in state legislatures in 5 states

across the country (NOW, 2001).

According to an article published by the National Organization for Women,

 Native American women experience the highest rate of violence of any group in

the United States. A report released by the Department of Justice, American

Indians and Crime, found that Native American women suffer violent crime at a

rate three and a half times greater than the national average. In addition to

domestic abuse, Native American women also experience the highest levels of

sexual abuse of any group. Three-fourths of Native American women have

experienced some type of sexual assault in their lives, however, most remain

silent due to cultural barriers, a high level of mistrust for white dominated

agencies, fear of familial alienation, and a history of inactivity by state and tribal

agencies to prosecute crimes committed against them.

Many librarians and other professionals do not consider Native Americans’ legitimate and valid

reasons to distrust current systems and non-Native American organizations, “[a]fter all,

memories—both personal and cultural—of forced sterilization and other violent ‘treatment’

procedures are not so far in the distant past for many Native Americans” (Bhungalia, 2001).

As women of color, Native Americans experience not only sexual violence, but also

institutionalized racism. Alex Wilson, a researcher for the Native American group Indigenous

Perspectives, found a high level of tension between law enforcement and Native American

women, who tell of numerous encounters where the police treated the women as if they were

fabricating their reports.

As Cherokee scholar-activist Andrea Smith reminds us, colonization has been and

continues to be a gendered process. More pointedly, other native scholars

 argue, the United States has conceptualized native women as a threat to the

body politic since the earliest moments of colonization, in particular because of

their abilities to reproduce native peoples, native communities, and by

extension, native claims to land…The epidemic of violence targeted toward

native women and then the restriction of state controlled resources to

reservation based programs evidence these arguments. (Robertson, 2010)

Of the four reservations in the state of Kansas, none have a public library on their

grounds. The Morrill Public Library, located in Hiawatha, Kansas, is between three of the

reservations in Kansas (the Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox). This library would be an excellent place

to examine if and how women are being served by the reservation library. The study aims to

identify the current state of library access for Sac and Fox nation women and to discover what

the women feel would improve their access to library services.

Research Questions

The study aims to identify the current state of library access for Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac &

Fox nation women in Kansas and to discover what the women feel would improve their access

to library services.

This study will answer:

1. What is the proximity of the library to residents’ housing?

2. What are library usage records from Jan 1 – December 31, 2009 for male and female
library users?
3. What outreach programs were provided from January 1 – December 31, 2009?
4. What do native women say would improve their access to library services?
5. What do native women say about their information needs?
 Literature Review

The literature review covers two areas: an introduction to the concepts of

intersectionality and a brief review of libraries’ relations with Native Americans.

Intersectionality affects Native American women living on the reservation in many ways.

According to Knudsen, “[i]ntersectionality may be defined as a theory to analyse how social and

cultural categories intertwine” and when studying this theory, “[t]he relationships between

gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, class and nationality are examined” (2006).

Approaching the subject from this perspective allows for several things to occur. First, it allows

for a nuanced analysis of power and knowledge and the mechanisms of exclusion and inclusion

of particular groups. Secondly, it allows one to study structural relationships in many social

groups, and not within single groups or single categories (Knudsen, 2006).

Understanding the concept of intersectionality keeps one from conflating intragroup

differences (Crenshaw, 1991). When considering Native American women, avoiding this elision

of difference is imperative, fundamentally because the experiences that affect many women

are often shaped by other dimensions of their identities, such as race and class (Crenshaw,

1991). Further, Crenshaw notes, “the experiences of women of color are frequently the

product of intersecting patterns of racism and sexism, and…[b]ecause of their intersectional

identity as both women and people of color within discourses that are shaped to respond to

one or the other, the interests and experiences of women of color are frequently marginalized

within both” (1991). The marginalization of Native Americans based on race, women’s
marginalization from sexism, and, finally, class issues revolving around residing within a

reservation, creates a three-way intersection for Native American women.

Shifting towards the literature on libraries’ relations with Native Americans, most

libraries that exist on reservations are outside the public, academic and government library

systems…[operating] in complete isolation” (Joseph & Lawson, 2003; Patterson, 2000). A

number of papers have been published regarding First Nations peoples and libraries in the

Canadian provinces. Many barriers to access are issues that Native Americans face as well, for

instance “[i]n many cases when [indigenous] communities have been included in library service

areas, the libraries have not promoted their services to those communities” (Joseph & Lawson,

2003). Another barrier is proximity, or lack thereof. Even with online public access catalogs to

help bridge the distance, “communities without full Internet access are unable to take

advantage of the online catalogues and resources of today's "virtual libraries" to find for

themselves the information that best meets their needs and interests” (Joseph & Lawson,

2003). Finally, the language used for and the theory behind information organization is

“outdated”, leading to the misrepresentation, marginalization and disparagement of indigenous

peoples’ cultures, history and philosophy (Joseph & Lawson, 2003). Clearly, these factors do

not facilitate a positive library experience for the user. This study will in which way these library

experiences are or are not replicated for the Native American women residing on reservations

who use the Morrill Public Library.

Methodology

This is a grounded theory, case study using both action research and a qualitative, structured,

library service evaluation focus group (see Appendix A). By working with the library staff, the
action research will examine the library usage records for the year 2009 based on sex. It will

also find what outreach programs were provided for the same year. The focus group aspect of

the study will include young women and elders of each reservation. Library users will be asked

to participate, and they will be asked to bring one woman of their acquaintance who is not a

(frequent) library user. The moderator will welcome the group, provide an overview, set ground

rules and then begin the open ended question session. The focus groups will be recorded by

tape recorder and transcribed for study, with pseudonyms ascribed to each participant. The

researcher will also take field notes. Data will be stored securely.

Data Analysis

The action research data will be compiled and recorded in a Vista MS Excel research log. The

data from library staff and focus group participants will be used together to describe the

existing situation. The focus group results will be recorded using a Casio X500 tape recorder and

transcribed word-for-word into a Vista MS Word document. A copy of the focus group

transcription will then be coded, compared to the action research data, and compiled into

themed categories. One goal will be to find if the offered outreach programs were meeting the

needs of the women adequately. Another will be to identify areas in which the women offer

critiques or suggestions.

Population and Setting

Within Kansas borders, there are four distinct Native American reservations: the Iowa Tribe, the

Kickapoo Tribe, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Sac and Fox Nation. Of these four

groups, no reservations have a public library. The Morrill Public Library, located in Hiawatha,
Kansas, is located near three of the four reservations (excluding the Prairie Band Potawatomi

Nation) and will serve as the focal library of this study. The action research and focus groups

will both occur at the library. The focus groups will include young, middle aged and older

women who reside on the reservations.

Role of the Researcher

The researcher of this project will collect the action research data, create the focus

group questions, organize and lead the focus group, transcribe the recorded data and perform

all other tasks of this study. Translation services will not be necessary. The reviewer has

requested and received approval from the institutional review board regarding the use of

human subjects.

Time Schedule

July: Set up time to visit library. Travel to library, run stats to attain data. Post flyers and

network to find interested focus group participants.

September: Finalize focus group participants, set date of meeting. Begin transcription.

October: Continue transcription and data analysis.

November: Conclude analysis, begin write-up.

December: Conclude write-up. Edit.

January: Final revision, submit article for publication.

 Budget

Costs for this research will include travel expenses, which are estimated to be $300. Cost to

rent room for focus group is $20. Flyer creation and publishing will accrue to approximately

$30. Incentives for attendance will include a free lunch of sandwiches, salad and side for 20

people, totaling $100. Childcare will also be provided on site. Caregiver fees are $45 and room

rental is $20. Total costs are estimated at $515.  

Limitations

This study is limited to only the Morrill Public Library and focuses on the needs of

Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox Nation women residing on their respective reservations . It does not

attempt to study the library situations of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. It also does not

attempt to address the library issues facing Native Americans who do not reside on a

reservation. This study focuses only on public-style reservation libraries, as well. It does not

approach tribal heritage libraries, but only public access, general use libraries on the

reservation. It does not focus specifically on preservation or archive issues.

 References

Bhungalia, L. (2001). Native American Women and Violence. National NOW Times, Spring 2001.

Retrieved from http://www.now.org/nnt/spring-2001/nativeamerican.html

Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence

against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 1991.

Joseph, G. & Lawson, K. (2003) First Nations and British Columbia Public Libraries. Feliciter

12(5), 245-247.

Knudsen, S. (2007, Nov). Intersectionality—A Theoretical Inspiration in the Analysis of Minority

Cultures and Identities in Textbooks. Presentation at the Eighth International

Conference on Learning and Educational Media: Caught in the Web or Lost in the

Textbook Conference. http://www.caen.iufm.fr/colloque_iartem/pdf/knudsen.pdf

National Congress of American Indians. (2004). Report Shows Status of Native Women Below

the Economic, Political Average. Washington, DC: NCAI News.

Patterson, L. (2000). History and Status of Native Americans in

Librarianship. Library Trends, 49(1), 182-193.

Robertson, Kimberly (2010). Commission on the Status of Women Conference Plenary Session

"Intersectionality Acts from the Margin": Un-Settling Questions: The Construction of Urban

Native Identity and Violence Against Native Women. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0OO5v63jpg
U. S. Census Bureau. (2000). American FactFinder fact sheet for a race, ethnic or ancestry

group: American Indian alone, Kansas. Retrieved June 21, 2010, from

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFIteratedFacts?

_event=&geo_id=04000US20&_geoContext=01000US

%7C04000US20%7C16000US2059050&_street=&_county=Sac+and+Fox+Nation&_city

Town=Sac+and+Fox+Nation&_state=04000US20&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGe

oDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=040&_submenuId=factsheet_2&ds_name=

DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=007&qr_name=DEC_2000_SAFF_R1040&reg=DEC_2000_SA

FF_R1040%3A007&_keyword=&_industry=

U. S. Census Bureau. (2000). The American Indian and Alaska Native Population Census Brief:

2000. Retrieved June 21, 2010, from http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-

15.pdf
Appendix A

Focus Group Question will include

1. What would you say would improve your access to library services?

2. What would you say about the library’s programming reflecting your needs and

interests?

3. What do you like about the library services (if anything)?

Appendix B

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO USE HUMAN SUBJECTS

This application should be submitted, along with the Informed Consent Document and supplemental material, to
the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Subjects, Research and Grants Center, Plumb Hall 313F,
Campus Box 4003.

This form must be typed. This form is available online at www.emporia.edu/research/docs/irbapp.doc.

1. Name of Principal Investigator(s) (Individual(s) administering the procedures): Sara Linden_________________

2. Departmental Affiliation: School of Library and Information Management

3. Person to whom notification should be sent: Sara Linden _______

Mailing Address: 2377 Road M, Emporia, KS, 66801

Telephone: (620) 204-1161 Email address: [email protected] _______

4. Title of Project: Without a Reservation Library: Examining Library Use of Kansas Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox
Nation Women

5. Funding Agency (if applicable): N/A

6. This is a: class project.

7. Time period for which you are requesting approval (maximum one year): from July 2009 to January 2009 . If
the research project extends past the end date requested, you will need to submit a request for a time extension
or an annual update. This form is available at www.emporia.edu/research/docs/irbmod.doc.

8. Project Purpose (please be specific):

The study aims to identify the current state of library access for Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox nation
women and to discover what the women feel would improve their access to library services.

9. Describe the proposed subjects: (age, sex, race, expected number of participants, or other special
characteristics, such as students in a specific class, etc.)

Proposed subjects will be twenty Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox women of various ages.

10. Describe how the subjects are to be selected. If you are using archival information, you must submit
documentation of authorization from applicable organization or entity.

Flyers will be posted in the library and at local community areas advertising the focus group and
incentives. Volunteers will be compiled and chosen to represent a balance of library and non-library users.

11. Describe in detail the proposed procedures and benefit(s) of the project. This must be clear and detailed enough
so that the IRB can assure that the University policy relative to research with human subjects is appropriately
implemented. Any proposed experimental activities that are included in evaluation, research, development,
demonstration, instruction, study, treatments, debriefing, questionnaires, and similar projects must be described here.
Copies of questionnaires, survey instruments, or tests should be attached. (Use additional page if necessary.)

Procedures will include meeting with twenty Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox nation women in a meeting
room in the reservation library. Open-ended questions will be asked of the group and the session will be
tape-recorded. Recordings will be transcribed and all materials will be stored safely. Pseudonyms for
participants will be used. Final results will be submitted within an article for publication.

Open-ended questions will include:

What would you say would improve your access to library services?
What would you say about the library’s programming reflecting your needs and interests?
What do you like about the library services (if anything)?

12. Will questionnaires, tests, or related research instruments not explained in question #11 be used?
 Yes X No (If yes, attach a copy to this application.)

13. Will electrical or mechanical devices be applied to the subjects? Yes X No (If yes, attach a detailed
description of the device(s) used and precautions and safeguards that will be taken.)

14. Do the benefits of the research outweigh the risks to human subjects? X Yes No (If no, this
information should be outlined here.)

15. Are there any possible emergencies which might arise in utilization of human subjects in this project?

Yes X No (If yes, details of these emergencies should be provided here.)

16. What provisions will you take for keeping research data private/secure? (Be specific – refer to p. 3 of
Guidelines.)

Pseudonyms will be used to keep participants’ privacy safe. All transcribed materials will be stored under
lock and key and will be password protected.

17. Attach a copy of the informed consent document, as it will be used for your subjects.

INVESTIGATOR’S ASSURANCE: I certify that the information provided in this request is complete and accurate. I
understand that as Principal Investigator I have ultimate responsibility for the protection of the rights and welfare
of human subjects and the ethical conduct of this research protocol. I agree to comply with all of ESU’s policies
and procedures, as well as with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding the protection of human
subjects in research, including, but not limited to, the following:

 The project will be performed by qualified personnel according to the research protocol,
 I will maintain a copy of all questionnaires, survey instruments, interview questions, data collection
instruments, and information sheets for human subjects,
 I will promptly request approval from ESU’s IRB if any changes are made to the research protocol,
 I will report any adverse events that occur during the course of conducting the research to the IRB within
10 working days of the date of occurrence.
Signature of Principal Investigator Date

FACULTY ADVISOR’S/INSTRUCTOR’S ASSURANCE: By my signature on this research application, I certify that the
student investigator is knowledgeable about the regulations and policies governing research with human subjects
and has sufficient training and experience to conduct this particular study in accord with the approved protocol. In
addition,

 I agree to meet with the student investigator on a regular basis to monitor study progress,
 Should problems arise during the course of this study, I agree to be available, personally, to supervise the
principal investigator in solving them,
 I understand that as the faculty advisor/instructor on this project, I will be responsible for the
performance of this research project.

Faculty advisor/instructor on project (if applicable) Date

INFORMED CONSENT STATEMENT

Focus Group: Examining Library Use of Kansas Kickapoo, Iowa and Sac & Fox Nation Women

INTRODUCTION

The School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University supports the
practice of protection for human subjects participating in research. The following information is
provided for you to decide whether you wish to participate in the present study. You may
refuse to sign this form and not participate in this study. You should be aware that even if you
agree to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time. If you do withdraw from this study, it
will not affect your relationship with this unit, the services it may provide to you, or Emporia
State University.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this project is to identify the current state of library access for Kickapoo,
Iowa and Sac & Fox nation women and to discover what you feel would improve your
experience of library services.

PROCEDURES

I will begin by reviewing the volunteers and contacting twenty of the women. Then, a time will
be scheduled to perform the focus group. The group session will be recorded and notes will be
taken.

The identities of the participants will be known only to the researcher. Their names will not be
associated with any tapes or transcripts of their interviews. All interview tapes and transcripts
will be seen only by the principal investigator and will be destroyed after the project is
completed. A pseudonym will be assigned to each participant by which they will be referred to
in the writing-up stages of the project.

After the focus group has met, I will listen to the recording, transcribe and code the document
according to the content of the recording. Finally, I will compare the data gathered from the
library statistics with the information gained from the focus group and write a report.

RISKS

Risks to participants are negligible. This interview will not require you to disclose any personal
information or address any sensitive topics.

BENEFITS

Direct benefits to the participants of this study are negligible, but benefits to library patrons and
the profession of librarianship will be more pronounced. In particular, we hope to understand
the ways in which public libraries near reservations are interacting with women and how the
interactions affect the women’s library experiences.

PARTICIPANT CONFIDENTIALITY

Your name will not be associated in any way with the information collected about you or with
the research findings from this study. The researcher(s) will use a pseudonym instead of your
name. The researcher will not share information about you unless required by law or unless you
give written permission.

Permission granted on this date to use and disclose your information remains in effect
indefinitely. By signing this form you give permission for the use and disclosure of your
information for purposes of this study at any time in the future.

REFUSAL TO SIGN CONSENT AND AUTHORIZATION

You are not required to sign this Consent and Authorization form and you may refuse to do so
without affecting your right to any services you are receiving or may receive from Emporia State
University or to participate in any programs or events of Emporia State University. However, if
you refuse to sign, you cannot participate in this study.
CANCELLING THIS CONSENT AND AUTHORIZATION

You may withdraw your consent to participate in this study at any time. You also have the right
to cancel your permission to use and disclose information collected about you, in writing, at any
time, by sending your written request to: Sara Linden, PO Box 334, Emporia, KS, 66801. If you
cancel permission to use your information, the researchers will stop collecting additional
information about you. However, the research team may use and disclose information that was
gathered before they received your cancellation, as described above, unless specified otherwise.

QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTICIPATION

Questions about procedures should be directed to the researcher(s) listed at the end of this
consent form.

PARTICIPANT CERTIFICATION:

I have read this Consent and Authorization form. I have had the opportunity to ask, and I have
received answers to, any questions I had regarding the study. I understand that if I have any
additional questions about my rights as a research participant, I may contact the Principal
Investigator, her Faculty Supervisor, or the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human
Subjects, Research and Grants Center, Plumb Hall 313F, Campus Box 4003.

I agree to take part in this study as a research participant. By my signature I affirm that I am at
least 18 years old and that I have received a copy of this Consent and Authorization form.

_______________________________ _____________________

Type/Print Participant's Name Date

_________________________________________

Participant's Signature
Researcher Contact Information

Sara Linden Mirah Dow

Principal Investigator Faculty Supervisor

PO Box 334 School of Library and Information Management

Emporia, Kansas 66801 Emporia State University

[email protected] [email protected]

(620) 204-1161