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.

Ashley Edwards

Ashley Edwards is a Métis-settler librarian working as the Indigenous Initiatives librarian at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby campus located on the shared territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations. Her Métis ancestors are from the Red River Settlement area, specifically St. Francis Xavier, where they took scrip. Ashley is a long standing member of SFU Library’s Decolonizing the Library Working Group, and the lead developer of the Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre. She has been a member of COPPUL’s Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee since 2021. Ashley is also a sessional instructor in Langara College’s Library and Information Technology diploma program, and a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at SFU, where her research looks at LIS education, decolonization, and the inclusion of Indigenous topics

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.

Michael Shires

Michael Shires is the Indigenous Studies Librarian at the University of Regina Dr. John Archer Library & Archives. This includes liaising with the ta-tawâw Student Centre and providing library supports to Indigenous students and non Indigenous students conducting Indigenous Studies research.  Michael is a member of the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee and has served on the Canadian Federation of Library Associations Indigenous Matters Committee. He is also the Community Engagement and Communications Librarian.  Michael is a settler who was born and raised in Treaty 6 lands and is grateful to live and work on land of the Nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Nakoda, Dakota, Lakota and the Métis/Michif peoples.

Claire Settee

Claire Settee is an Indigenous Librarian Intern at the University of Manitoba Libraries, located on the homelands of the Anishinaabe, Omushkego, Nehiywak/ Inniniwak, Anishinniniwak, Dene, Dakota and Metis nations. She is an urban Omushkego/Scottish Metis and Anishinaabkwe, and is a member of Ochekwi Sipi (Fisher River Cree Nation) with ties to Waanibigaw Ziibi (Hollow Water First Nation). She is an MLIS student at the University of Alberta and a new member of COPPUL’s Oskapewis mentorship group and IKSC.