Indigenous initiatives and information studies: Unlearning in the classroom

Abstract

This paper provides a classroom-grounded inquiry into Library, Archival, and Information Studies (LAIS) engagement with Indigenous initiatives and issues. We review select diversity-oriented scholarship framed by our interest in LAIS pedagogy. We recognize incisive scholars who have identified pervasive racism and oppression within LAIS, called for change, and envisioned better futures. We contribute to this conversation through reflecting on our attempts to question professional norms in a LAIS classroom, specifically in relation to engagement with Indigenous initiatives. We share our experiences as educators, what we tried, what failed, what we think worked, and why. The paper concludes with our aspirations for diversity initiatives across LAIS education.

Keywords

• diversity
• education
• indigenous
• information studies
• pedagogy