The OHA Indigenous Initiative Research Fund provides a $1,000 annual monetary award given to an Indigenous oral historian actively engaged in a collaborative, community-based oral history research project relating to Indigenous people. The goal of the research fund is to support the oral historian’s project by offsetting some costs or otherwise helping to move the project toward completion.
The research fund is supported through the the Oral History Association’s “Indigenous Initiative,” an ongoing fundraising effort for an endowment to promote the success of Indigenous oral historians, as well as meaningful and ethical oral historical projects within Indigenous communities. This ongoing project of the OHA reflects our commitment to move beyond words and into action by utilizing our resources and standing to support oral history work by, of, and for Indigenous peoples.
Application Guidelines
The review committee will make their decision based on the pool of submitted applications, each of which must include the following parts:
- NARRATIVE statement of no more than 1300 words addressing the following:
- a description of the project and its relation to Indigenous oral history;
- the current status of the project in terms of current support (grants, institutional support, in-kind donations); work completed; and a detailed description of the specific work to be done during the research fund period;
- a timeline of completion of the work, including approximate dates for each phase, step, or research activity.
- a brief biography of the applicant, training and preparation, previous oral history and related work, and ability to complete the project as described above; and
- a description of you and your relationship to the Indigenous community or communities you are working, including:
- Are you Indigenous?
- If you are Indigenous, in 300 words or less, please describe your relationship to your community (e.g., tribal citizen, descendant, enrolled, or another definition of belonging that your community acknowledges)
- For everyone else: In 300 words or less, please describe your relationships to Native communities and/or your commitments to Indigenous peoples.
- RESUME or CURRICULUM VITAE for the applicant.
- BUDGET for the research project, providing a reasonable estimation of costs (such as travel, transcription, equipment, per diem, protocol gifts, and time) for the project.
- CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TWO REFERENCES who can speak to the applicant’s qualifications, as described above. Include each reference’s phone number and email.
Review of Applications
The OHA’s Indigenous Initiative Research Fund Review Committee—which includes members of the association’s Indigenous Caucus and Council—will review applications and make a decision based on the quality of the project and application, as well as the applicant’s ability to fulfill their stated project goals during the prescribed period.
Research Fund Requirements
The prescribed period for the project is from August 1 to July 31. Research fund recipients must submit a report to the OHA Executive Office at the conclusion of the period for which they receive funding, describing the work completed. Recipients are encouraged to attend the OHA annual meeting immediately after the project period to present their work as part of the conference proceedings. The OHA will work with the research fund recipient to support their conference attendance.
The submission deadline is June 1, 2025. Click here to apply!
While membership in the Oral History Association is not required, it will be appreciated if you choose to affiliate with OHA, thus supporting its ongoing efforts to enhance the use of oral history historical methods in academic research.
Committee Chair: Francine Spang-Willis | 2024-2027 | francinespangwillis@gmail.com
Committee Members:
Lisa Brooks | 2024-2027
Sarah Milligan | 2024-2027
Benji de la Piedra | 2024-2027
Winona Wheeler | 2024-2027
