Reconciliation Framework: The Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce

Forest with light shining on one section of trees

The Reconciliation Framework: The Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce created by the Steering Committee on Canada's Archives, Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Taskforce (TRC-TF) is now available. Based on five years of research, work, and collaboration between archivists and Indigenous communities this document provides a … Continue reading Reconciliation Framework: The Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce

Historical Reminiscents Podcast EP 82: Archival Challenges During Covid-19

sign saying challenges ahead

In today's episode I'm talking about archival pandemic backlogs and pressure points that COVID-19 have created in archival settings.  Mentioned in this episode:-Samantha Thompson, "Why don't archivists digitize everything?" Download or Listen Now: Transcript of episode 82.

Residential School Artwork Conversations

Residential School Artwork Conversations

On February 18th at noon ET Skylee-Storm Hogan and I are going to be talking about artwork made by Residential School students and the implications of sharing this artwork today. Our conversation will be moderated by Maddy Bifano. This webinar was partly inspired by the article Skylee-Storm and I wrote in 2020 for Art Libraries … Continue reading Residential School Artwork Conversations

Historical Reminiscents Podcast EP 69: Dated and Racist Language in Archival Descriptions

stack of old papers on left, right side reads "Episode 69: Dated and Racist Language in Archival Descriptions"

It's been awhile, but I'm back with new podcast content. In today's episode I'm discussing problematic language in archival descriptions, approaches to handling racist depictions in records, and efforts to update archival practices. Mentioned in this episode: -University of Waterloo, Language in Archival Collections-Archives for Black Lives in Philadelphia, Anti-Racist Description Resources (PDF)- Gracen Brilmyer, … Continue reading Historical Reminiscents Podcast EP 69: Dated and Racist Language in Archival Descriptions

Organizing Ideas Podcast

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I recently had the joy of talking with Allison Jones and Karen Ng of the Organizing Ideas Podcast, a fantastic podcast looking at the relationship between organizing information and community organizing. We talked about public history, archival process, the need for archives to move away from colonial mindsets, and I gushed about embroidery briefly. You … Continue reading Organizing Ideas Podcast

Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work in Canadian Archives

silver typewriter in shallow focus photography

My latest article, "Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work in Canadian Archives," can now be found in the Canadian Historical Review. For interested folks, here is the abstract for the article: As historians and the public engage with, address, and teach the history of residential schools, it is important to look at how that … Continue reading Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work in Canadian Archives

Creating the Historical Record in Literary and Personal Archives

My most recent post, "Creating the Historical Record in Literary and Personal Archives", can be seen over at Activehistory.ca.  This post looks at the specific challenges around historical use of literary archives, the unique nature of documenting creative process, and how historians can use literary archival material.  I also look at the Brian Vallée fonds … Continue reading Creating the Historical Record in Literary and Personal Archives

Interviewing and the Power of Perspective

In December 2015 I interviewed for University Archivist position at a Canadian university. I've attempted to write about this experience a couple of times but have repeatedly deleted what I wrote.  I initially considered writing broadly about the university archives/faculty hiring experience. The interview process for this position was completely different than any of the … Continue reading Interviewing and the Power of Perspective

Stewarding Collections of Trauma

The Fall 2015 issue of Archivaria included "Stewarding Collections of Trauma: Plurality, Responsibility, and Questions of Action" by Lisa P. Nathan, Elizabeth Shaffer, and Maggie Castor.  The article looked broadly at efforts to manage archives that contain material relating to historical trauma and more specifically at the work of the National Centre for Truth and … Continue reading Stewarding Collections of Trauma

Journal of Western Archives: Native American Archives Special Issue

The current issue of the Journal of Western Archives focuses on Native American Archives.  The articles are open access and on a range of topics including tribal archives, decolonizing archival practice, developing training opportunities for Indigenous archivists, and the challenges faced by archives holding contrived photographs of Indigenous people. I'm still working my way through … Continue reading Journal of Western Archives: Native American Archives Special Issue