Cultivating Community Through Critical Indigenous Librarianship Programming: Creative Expression to Language Immersion to Research

As the library profession strives to welcome diverse communities, what does meaningful and sustained inclusivity look like for Indigenous peoples? How do library systems plan to address the historic dismissal of Indigenous knowledge systems that lingers in their lack of tribally-focused services and resources? Are library systems prepared to pursue collaborations and partnerships with Indigenous peoples rooted in the “6 R’s” (respect, relationship, relevance, reciprocity, responsibility, and representation)? Are public and academic library systems ready to address the information needs of Indigenous peoples beyond Native American Heritage Month? This presentation will demonstrate how Indigenous librarianship is prioritized at an Indigenous-led library within a non-Indigenous doctoral research university library. This library is trailblazing approaches and strategies that can greatly influence how libraries engage with Indigenous peoples. The all Indigenous staff has “Indigenized” their library service model so that Indigenous patrons can foster belonging in the library and larger university. By delivering programming that engages and centers Indigenous ways of knowing, lived experiences, and creative expressions, the Indigenous staff builds community through open-mic poetry events, rap, jazz, and heavy metal shows, panels centered on Indigenous activism, language immersion bingo nights, and engagements that take patrons outside the library to learn from the land. This presentation will spotlight why an all-Indigenous staffing model is needed to create programs that: 1) foster cultural resilience 2) support community building and 3) facilitate Indigenous research that supports self-determination and Tribal sovereignty. Additionally, it will stress the primary importance of having Indigenous leadership within non-Indigenous library systems.