Librarians as Cultural Stewards: A 6-Step Framework for Safeguarding Indigenous Knowledge in Micronesia

Abstract

Micronesian librarians are evolving into "cultural stewards" to safeguard heritage threatened by climate change, outmigration, and archival fragility. This poster presents a transformative 6-step framework for community-led documentation that moves beyond traditional custodial roles to empower Indigenous communities.

Grounded in Indigenous Data Sovereignty and reciprocity, the model provides a practical roadmap for librarians to act as ethical mediators and community collaborators. It guides practitioners through establishing relational foundations, mapping cultural priorities, and co-producing climate-resilient digital archives for both tangible and intangible heritage, such as traditional seafaring and medicinal knowledge. By integrating indigenous knowledge governance into modern library practice, this framework ensures that cultural systems remain living systems even as physical landscapes shift.

The presentation demonstrates how libraries in small-island settings can power transformation by building institutional capacity and facilitating inter-generational renewal, offering a scalable model for preserving cultural memory amid rapid global change.