Keynote Panelists

Making space for indigenous peoples

The Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee of the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries creates an environment that sustains initiatives that make space for Indigenous peoples and knowledges and that seek to amplify the voices of Indigenous library employees. Working within a regional consortial framework, the committee supports COPPUL’s decolonization and Indigenization initiatives on behalf of its member libraries. We invite CAPAL members to join us in reflecting on ways to make space in our libraries for Indigenous ways and voices.

Keynote A

Blurb

Deborah Lee

Deborah Lee is Cree-Metis, with family from the Lac Ste. Anne, Onoway & St. Albert communities near amiskwaciy waskahigan (Edmonton). These Metis communities go back to the early 1800's, following the fur trade using what are now known as the Sturgeon and North Saskatchewan river systems. Her kohkum and father's first language was Cree (nehiyawewin). She also has French-Canadian ancestry on her mother's side. Deborah started her librarian career at Library & Archives Canada, then worked in several roles (including Team Leader for the I-Portal and Indigenous Studies and Initiatives Librarian) for 16 years at the University of Saskatchewan Library in Saskatoon. She was also the Indigenous Knowledge Coordinator at COPPUL for 3 years (part-time). Deborah retired from USask in 2023 with the designation of Librarian Emerita. She has presented and published widely on many aspects of Indigenous Librarianship. Currently, she lives in amiskwaciy waskahigan and works part-time at Theatre Alberta as the Indigenous Theatre Library Collection Manager, a position which enhances her long-time interest and involvement with Indigenous theatre.

Anne Carr-Wiggin

Anne Carr-Wiggin coordinates Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Alberta Library, including the First Nations Information Connection (a collaboration with First Nations college libraries), the Indigenous Internship, and the NEOS Decolonizing Description project. She serves on the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee, and on the Council of the National Indigenous Knowledge and Language Alliance, and has served on the Canadian Federation of Library Associations Indigenous Matters Committee. She is of Scottish and English heritage, and came to these lands as an adult. She is grateful for the welcome and learning she has received from Indigenous colleagues, students and friends.