Truth and Reconciliation at Library and Academic Services: Home

Education

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action # 10

• We offer diagnostic testing in various subject areas to support Indigenous Students enrolled in various programs outside of RRC Polytech.

Professional Development and Training for Public Servants

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action # 57

• Intercultural Competence resources in Tutor Onboarding Course
• Development of Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. This group provides an intentional space and time to discuss, plan and implement ideas to advance diversity and inclusion within LAS in a coordinated and systemic way, while making sure we stay aligned to departmental and organizational strategic goals.
• Unconscious Bias Training. Developed by members of the Diversity and Inclusion working group, this workshop aims to help participants gain a broader understanding of diversity and inclusions, and to become more self-aware of biases and privilege which can affect our programs and services. 

Education for Reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action # 62, 63

• Anti-Racism/Social Justice Book Club for Diversity Trainers. Interested staff meet quarterly to read and reflect on Anti-Racism and Social Justice themed books to enhance their understanding of diverse perspectives, increase understanding of the barriers faced by diverse groups, and work to become allies.
• Diversity Training. In collaboration with the Academic EDI Coordinator from the Centre for International Education and Global Partnerships, we deliver Intercultural Competence, Gender and Sexual Diversity, and Anti-Racism trainings to students.
• Anti-Racism Self-Enrollment LEARN shell. A self-directed LEARN shell that students can use to learn about the history of racism in Canada, how systemic racism continues to affect racialized people, and how to be an ally to break down barriers for racialized people
• Immersive Stories (aka. “Human Library”) Program. LAS staff hosted story telling sessions where RRC Polytech staff with diverse backgrounds shared their stories with staff and students in order to increase understanding of multiple perspectives and help break down barriers.

Newcomers to Canada

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action # 93

• Delivering and expanding Anti-Racism Training to international and immigrant students
• Sharing subject matter knowledge and resources with programs for the development of their own training/resources. 

Outreach and Service

• Conversations with Authors Program
  • Series hosted by Indigenous Education and Library and Academic Services to further the conversation and our understanding of truth and reconciliation. We have selected some of the best of Canadian Indigenous writing, and lined up live conversations with the authors of these books. Recordings available. 
• Collection Development: Ensure print and digital collections highlight, acknowledge, and honour the unique cultures and experiences of Indigenous communities.
• Developing Collection Development policies that:
  • encourages and prioritizes diverse, local, and Indigenous perspectives to provide inclusive and diverse collections which represent our community values
  • Highlight resources available to 2S/QTPOC students, teachers, faculty, staff, administrators, institutional decision-making bodies by continuing to seek out and expand collection development or written resources and act as a college wide resource hub for students.

Access & Classification

• Indigenous Subject Modification: Ongoing work to integrate Indigenous Knowledge into access, arrangement, description, classification and cataloguing praxis. 
  • Presentation: Indigenous Subject Headings Modification 

Indigenous Knowledge Protection

As part of copyright education and awareness at RRC Polytech:

• Inclusion of acknowledgement: The Government of Canada should work with Indigenous peoples in Canada to explore mechanisms to protect Indigenous knowledge from unauthorized use through copyright legislation and to ensure that Indigenous concepts of ownership are respected, while enabling the originating community to actively exploit the knowledge.
• Advocacy and support for the CFLA-FCAB recommendation that: the Copyright Act respect, affirm and recognize Indigenous Peoples ownership of their traditional and living respective Indigenous knowledge by supporting intellectual property conversations with Traditional Knowledge Keepers at the college.

Decolonizing Libraries and Space

• Adopt formal statement acknowledging the Treaty, unceded and traditional territory on which the library sits in our virtual spaces (websites)
• The new Testing & Assessment Centre located in Manitou a bi Bii daziigae has dedicated spaces for smudging which students can utilize before or after completing an exam in the Testing & Assessment Centre.
• Incorporated RRC Polytech's Land Acknowledgment Statement into staff email signatures

Many events and services provided by LAS staff integrate elements of Indigenous Worldviews into their process or delivery. While it is difficult to highlight these instances explicitly, these everyday behaviours are recognized as mindful actions towards Reconciliation and fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion. 

These actions may include volunteering or participation in Indigenous initiatives both at the College and within our community; participating in training and education; incorporating Indigenous consultations in workshops and programs, including those directed towards building awareness and understanding; prioritizing Indigenous History and Education as blog highlights; incorporating Sharing Circles in LAS events; seeking opening blessings from Elder’s-in-Residence; seeking Indigenous community consultations; and more. 

We encourage recommendations in how our work and engagement can further advance the process of Truth and Reconciliation in our community.

We respectfully recognize that Red River College Polytechnic campuses are located on original Lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. As well as that the Water we drink is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.

Selection of Featured Books in our Collections