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The, rneqfArch£ve: our»fstoY(}1 OU,Futu,c;" ULF HEDBERG t is very important for Deaf people to acquire an awareness and understanding of Deaf history. Education about our history can help us to understand what struggles and ordeals our Deaf forefathers went through and to appreciate all they did to improve our lives. It is also important to understand the lives of those people and their perspectives to gain a better understanding of the society we live in today and the present situation for Deaf people. Schools for Deaf students should offer not only the opportunity to study sign language , as hearing students study their mother tongue, but also to study Deaf history. Deaf children must be given the opportunity to learn about their past and to identify with the Deaf people who lived before them in order to respect Deaf people and our achievements. I once met a Deaf man from Milan, Italy who had never heard about the 1880 Congress of Milan, even though he was from that same area where it took place. Deaf people must nourish and take responsibility for Deaf culture. Deaf history is an important part of Deaf culture. We cannot let the development of a Deaf heritage be left to hearing people. It is very important for Deaf people to take an active role in the decisionmaking processes in every area that concerns Deaf people, and to be active in the leadership of our own cultural identity. We must save all the material we leave behind us to develop a strong bond with our Deaf heritage. Hearing people have oppressed Deaf people in the past, both purposefully and out of ignorance. This still occurs in all countries worldwide and in every area of life important to Deaf people. This does not mean, however, that we cannot work with hearing people, but it does mean that they must be hearing people who are very sensitive and respectful of our history and culture. Deaf history should be included in the curriculum of Deaf schools and in regular universities as well (not only in universities for Deaf students, like Gallaudet University ). In Sweden during the late 1800s, Deaf heritage was included in the training of teachers of Deaf people. Deaf history and Deaf heritage should be mandatory for all students in interpreter training programs and in those designed to produce educators of Deaf students so these professionals can function appropriately in a crosscultural situation. Offering these classes to hearing people will help us spread knowledge of and respect for Deaf people as well as our heritage. 284 THE DEAF WAY ~ Deaf History The Archive An archive is a place where documents such as correspondence, minutes of meetings, records, diaries, verifications, and photos are preserved and stored. A general misconception is that an archive keeps only old documents, but they can also store present-day documents. What are some of the reasons for collecting and keeping documents in this place called an archive? First, it offers a safe place to prevent documents from being destroyed by fire, air pollution, water, or temperature fluctuations. Archives are also useful for research and for keeping materials systematized and classified. In general, the work done in an archive includes the receiving and collecting of materials, filing and storing them in systematic order, and protecting them in acid-free boxes. All documents are processed, and a historical background and classification are developed. A well-established and well-maintained archive is valuable for research because the researcher can go to one place to find sources for an investigation. An archive and the research it generates can also provide publications and material for use in education about Deaf heritage. The Gallaudet University Archives, for example, are where wellknown authors like Harlan Lane (When the Mind Hears) and Jack Gannon (Deaf Heritage) have done some of the research for their publications. Our Future Those countries that have education and organizations for Deaf individuals should locate funding and develop interest in establishing a Deaf archive. My hope is that, in the future, Deaf people in every country can establish their own Deaf archives. This may take many years. Some countries-especially those in the Third World-don't even have education for Deaf children or organized associations for Deaf adults. Some might say it is irrelevant to even think of establishing a Deaf archive in those countries, but it is important for all Deaf people to be aware of the need to save all...

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