Organization
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre/UBC Library
Address
Vancouver Campus / Musqueam Ancestral Territory
Rm 302
1961 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Canada
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Supervising Librarian/Archivist
Name: Allan Cho
Email: allan.cho@ubc.ca
Purpose of the project:
This project is part of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – Scholars in Residence program through UBC Libraries. For this work, we will explore opportunities and wise-practice models for EDI and university library departments, to engage Land-based decolonial community and professional development activities which are aligned with the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Policies regarding Indigenous EDI specifically, and distinct implementation of formal Indigenous strategic planning within diverse departments at Canadian universities remain under- developed. Furthermore, accessibility to EDI resources, as well as some of the experiences and challenges faced by Indigenous scholars looking to engage EDI have been articulated – but are often not well documented. Implementation of decolonial, Land-based EDI initiatives for university library departments is also extremely rare. Local Indigenous knowledge systems, relationship building, and Land-based pedagogical frameworks can strengthen EDI initiatives, scholarship, curriculum development and teaching practices.
We know that the process of decolonizing academic policy and procedures benefits immensely from local Indigenous worldviews and knowledge systems, as well as relationality to surrounding Land and Water on Indigenous territories. Gathering and synthesizing information about Indigenous approaches within EDI will contribute to informing and advancing initiatives which are supportive of Indigenous students, scholars, and overall decolonial university practices alike.
Research questions include:
- How is decolonial policy and practice perceived and implemented in university settings?
- What role does Land-based education and programming have within university library departments?
- How can EDI be rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and being?
Summary of activities required to carry out the project:
Under the supervision of the Community Engagement Librarian along with a local Indigenous EDI Scholar in Residence, the student may be asked to:
- Conduct an environmental scan and literature review of preferences, needs, as well as best practices for: 1) Post-secondary decolonial policy and procedures; 2) Indigenous EDI programs; and 3) Land-based education within university libraries
- Summarize findings and present recommendations in a written literature review***
- Solicit and integrate feedback from Irving K Barber Learning Centre team members
- Present findings and recommendations to Irving K Barber Learning Centre and UBC EDI team members***
- Explore ideas around decolonization, reciprocity, and Land-based teachings in practice;
- Strengthen relationality and decolonial approaches within university library departments, policy and procedures
- Examine linkages/contrasts between EDI initiatives and local Indigenous cultural knowledge and teachings
- Conduct an assessment of regional and national academic peer-reviewed journals who accept submissions about post-secondary decolonial policy and procedures, Indigenous EDI programs, and Land-based education in university libraries.
- Summarize journal findings and submission procedures, and complete written report with recommendations***
- Use MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and Power Point
- Participate in team meetings via Zoom or Teams as required
Because this is an emerging project, the supervisor and student will work together to determine a project plan that meets current needs of the project, as well as the learning objectives of the student.
Expectations of the end result of the project, for both host and student:
By the end of the project, the student will have hands-on experience gathering and synthesizing information about best and wise (Indigenous) EDI practices and decolonial policy and procedures within university context, to aid in the creation and development of EDI programming across university institutions. They will gain insight into engaging with and responding to the information needs of EDI program and service teams, as well as Indigenous students/faculty/staff in an interdisciplinary context. They will also have the opportunity for mentorship from a librarian with a variety of experience in a non-traditional setting.
By the end of this project, Irving K Barber Learning Centre will have a series of evidence-informed recommendations to direct the creation and enhancement of decolonial EDI programs and services, and ways to incorporate Land-based practices into UBC Library settings.
Time periods in which the project could be supervised:
- Winter Term 2 (January – April)
Is there a deadline by which the project must be completed?
End of Winter Term 2.
Considering the project requirements, please suggest suitable coursework as pre-requisite or co-requisite:
The LIBR Core is sufficient for this work, but any of the following courses would be particularly helpful:
- LIBR 553 Understanding Information Users in Diverse Environments (helpful, but not required)
- LIBR 564 Information Practice and Protocol in Support of Indigenous Initiatives
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.