10/09/2019
Congratulations to Omar Poler on receiving the 2019 ATALM Leadership Award, which honors an individual with exceptional abilities to lead and inspire, as reflected in extraordinary accomplishments with broad impact on the field of indigenous culture. "Omar Poler is recognized for his quiet strength, inclusionary spirit, and devotion to Great Lakes cultural institutions. In 2010, as a UW-Madison Information School Outreach Specialist, Omar Poler (Sokaogon Ojibwe) organized the first Convening Culture Keepers gathering of tribal librarians, archivists, and museum curators in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Under his guidance, participants established lasting partnerships with other tribal communities resulting in meaningful contributions to the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage in the Great Lakes region. In 2013, Omar worked alongside leaders in tribal institutions to identify professional development needs. This culminated in multiple regional professional development institutes and a multi-year effort to develop a community co-curated traveling exhibition aimed at tribal youth. Omar’s significant contributions to strengthening Great Lakes cultures serves as inspiration for many." 🎉🎉🎉 https://www.atalm.org
