In 2021, the UHN received a small grant of funding for Louisiana Culture Care Fund grants that has been administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) and provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.
COVID-19 brought forth many new challenges in how the UHN has had to operate and coordinate its day-to-day operations that were further exhausted by Hurricane Ida with the damages to tribal facilities. For the first time in our 30+ years of employing staff, the Tribe had to consider adopting a more flexible work environment that includes telework. However, efficiently doing that is certainly a challenge.
This funding has allowed the UHN to purchase and invest in a streamlined modular IT upgrade that would allow staff to essentially operate seamlessly anywhere they have access to a secure internet connection. The system would allow interaction and sharing of files as if individuals were working in close proximity when in reality not. This upgrade allows the UHN to operate on the same platform as many for profit entities and commercial operations are able to do in ensuring security and efficiency of tribal intellectual property and preservation of such historic, language, anthropologic, and artistic materials. “Although not the most exciting project on the surface, this upgrade is essential in preserving all critical tribal experiences today for our kids in the future,” stated Lanor Curole, Tribal Administrator.