Project Overview
The purpose of the Indigenous Headings Project is to revise and improve Indigenous terminology within the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and the Library of Congress Classification (LCC). Initiated in Spring 2024, a dedicated Indigenous Headings Consultants Group (IHCG) was established to provide guidance and expertise. The project is iterative and organized into multiple phases, reflecting the complexity of existing standards and the extensive proposal process required to address thousands of headings. All revisions are undertaken in consultation with and under the advisement of the IHCG.
Project Phases
The existing hierarchies in Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) for Indigenous headings are extremely complex, necessitating a phased approach to project work.
Phase 1
Following the recommendation of the IHCG, Cataloging Policy Specialists in the Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division at the Library created proposals to cancel the subject heading Indians and replace it with the heading Indigenous peoples--America. Narrower terms of and certain derivative terms for the base heading Indians were also changed. A total of 179 headings were changed or cancelled.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is underway and is focused on updating the subject headings Indians of North America, Indians of Mexico, Indians of Central America, Indians of South America, and the Indians of the West Indies, replacing them with the existing heading Indigenous peoples--[North America, Mexico, etc.]. Narrower terms of and certain derivative terms for these base headings will also be changed. The IHP Cataloging Team is creating the proposals necessary for this work.
Subject headings for individual Indigenous groups in Alaska, New Mexico, New York, Pacific Islands, Arizona, Montana, and Oklahoma and other related headings will also be updated under the guidance and recommendations of the IHCG.
Indigenous Headings Consultants Group
The IHCG is comprised of librarians and information professionals from Indigenous tribes and nations. IHCG meets monthly to discuss and prioritze subject headings to review. Their research and outreach to Indigenous communities provide the literary, organizational, and user warrant necessary to change subject headings to the most accurate terminology.
Members
- Terry C. Abrams
Tonawanda Seneca Nation
Curator and Collections Manager
Niagara County Historical Society
- Brandon Castle
Tsimshian Nation (Alaska)
Native American and Indigenous Studies Librarian
University of Massachusetts, Amherst - George Gottschalk
Muscogee Creek
Head of Acquisitions and Resource Management
Kansas State University Library - Sarah Kostelecky
Zuni Pueblo
Associate Professor
Director of the Indigenous Nations Library Program
University of New Mexico - Aaron LaFromboise
Blackfeet Nation
Director of Library Services Medicine Spring Library
Blackfeet Community College - Sandy Littletree
Diné (Navajo Nation) and Eastern Shoshone
Assistant Professor iSchool
University of Washington - Mowana Lee Lomaomvaya
Hopi
Assistant Archivist
Northern Arizona University - Keahiahi Long
Native Hawaiian
Librarian
Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies
University of Hawaii - Katherine Witzig
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Programs and Partnership Officer
Oklahoma Department of Libraries
State Library - Library of Congress Project Lead and Liaison to the IHGC
Amy Phillips
Mixtec and Zapotec (Oaxaca)
Cataloging Policy Specialist
Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs
The Library of Congress
Indigenous Headings Project Cataloging Team
The Indigenous Headings Project cataloging team creates modified and new subject proposals for Indigenous people of the Americas follwing the Interim Guidelines for Indigenous Heading Proposals. The cataloging team includes catalogers from the SACO Latin American and Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Funnel (LAIPA) and the African, Latin American and Western European Division (ALAWE) at the Library of Congress.
Members
- Nancy Alfaro
Senior Librarian
Iberia and Rio Office Section
African, Latin American and Western European Division
Library of Congress
- Conor Golden
Receipt and Copy Cataloging Specialist
University of Pittsburgh Library System
University of Pittsburgh
- Amy Puryear
Senior Librarian
South America Section
African, Latin American and Western European Division
Library of Congress
- Brenda Salem
Hispanic Languages Catalog Librarian
University of Pittsburgh Library System
University of Pittsburgh
- Vanessa Sztym
Collection Services Manager
Peace Library System
Announcements
- The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs (PTCP) Division and the Indigenous Headings Consultants Group are pleased to announce the removal of the subject heading Indians from the Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Indigenous Headings Announcement for List 2509a
Library of Congress Subject Headings Approved List 09a, 2025
- Future lists will be posted to Indigenous Headings Project: Tentative and Approved Proposal Lists.
- The Library of Congress held the Indigenous Headings Project (IHP) virtual meeting on May 13, 2026. The meeting recording and presentation power point can be found here:
Indigenous Headings Project recording
Passcode: +CQ02**4
Indigenous Headings Project presentation
