DAE recall the years spent awaiting the unsealing of indigenous land claim testimonies?

I dedicated over a decade to corresponding with archives about a series of 1920s hearings that were deliberately buried. The practical approach was to maintain meticulous logs of each inquiry and appeal, treating it like a long-term project. When the transcripts were finally released, they held oral histories that contradicted the official settlement narrative. This experience showed me that justice for overlooked voices can hinge on steadfast, patient advocacy. I now recommend this methodical logging to anyone navigating similar historical silences.

3 comments

3 Comments

shah.nora7d ago

That "lifesaver" spreadsheet, did maintaining it ever feel like a form of testimony itself while you waited?

max4896d ago

Once thought logging was pointless, but that 'lifesaver' changed my view.

phoenix2177d ago

I kept a massive spreadsheet tracking every letter I sent to the National Archives about the Pueblo land claims. That single document was a lifesaver when I finally got a responsive archivist on the phone years later. Seriously, log everything, even the dead ends.