Community Archival Description and Community Access

Posted on By krista
circle of trees

This week my colleague Jenna Lemay and I presented on “Community Archival Description and Community Access” as part of the Maskwacis Cultural College Microlearning Series.

Our webinar focused on how the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre does archival description and archival access. We provided an overview of the Centre’s approach to both and also discussed specific projects and examples.

You can view our slides here. Additionally, the session and part of the discussion were recorded.

Photo by Martin Reisch on Unsplash

Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall Behind the Scenes

Posted on By krista
Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall poster

Earlier this week, as part of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre’s ongoing webinar series I presented a Behind the Scenes look at the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibition space.

My talk focused on the Survivor community based approach of the exhibition, challenges of installing an exhibit in a University hallway, and decisions around which photos to include.

You can see my slides with notes here. And the recording of the webinar is available here.

Stronger Together: The Potential Collaborative Agency of Historians and Archivists

Posted on By krista

My latest post written with Andrea Eidinger, “Stronger Together: The Potential Collaborative Agency of Historians and Archivists” can be read over on Activehistory.ca.

The piece looks at the recent dust up around the BC archives closure and the subsequent open letter written by history departments. It argues for historians and archivists working together and listening to each other.

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

6 Questions in 6 Minutes(ish)

Posted on By krista
Trees with question marks spray painted on them

Jean-Pierre Morin has started a YouTube series dedicated to Public Historians sharing their work. The series asks public historians six questions:

1-      Who are you?
2-      How did you end up where you are?
3-      What’s the nature of your work?
4-      What do you enjoy most about your work?
5-      What’s the biggest challenge in your work?
6-      What keeps you motivated? 

And lets folks share a little bit about themselves and their public history practice. There’s three videos in the series so far, including one of Jean-Pierre and I talking about my work. It’s fun and includes all the public history goodness.

Photo by Evan Dennis on Unsplash

Archives Month Series

Posted on By krista
pen and a piece of paper

For the second year in a row I will be working with Nicole Belolan and Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan to edit an archives month series for the History@Work blog. It was wonderful working with Nicole and Kristin on the 2019 archives series and I’m looking forward to seeing how the series develops this year.

This year’s series will focus on archival and library practice and labor as well as archives and libraries as public history. Because the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted new challenges surrounding the use and maintenance of archives, the series also welcome pitches from users of archives. 

Pitches are due July 10th and you can see the full CFP here.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Best Article In Indigenous History Prize

Posted on By krista

I’m honoured and deeply humbled to have won, alongside Madeline Whetung, the Canadian Historical Association Best Article In Indigenous History Prize.

Madeline Whetung’s article “(En)Gendering Shoreline Law: Nishnaabeg Relational Politics Along the Trent Severn Waterway” is a must read. Whetung examines the concept of shoreline law as a means of discussing place-based kinship ties that the Mississaugas hold with water and land and other beings with which they share territory.

My article, “Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work In Canadian Archives” seeks to highlight existing colonial frameworks within the Canadian archival system and explore the impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on Canadian archival practices.

The article would not have been possible without the guidance of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni, my colleagues at the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, and the advice of Skylee-Storm Hogan.

Photo by Thor Alvis on Unsplash

Queer Crafting

Posted on By krista

Awesome news – Madison Bifano and I recently received a Tegan and Sara Foundation (TSF) grant to support the work of the Queer Making Community Collective.

This TSF community grant will allow us to host virtual queer crafting circles, pay queer crafters/makers located in Northern Ontario, and help buy crafting supplies for those who need them in the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario region.

We’ll be hosting virtual crafting circles Wednesdays at 7pm in the month of June. You can follow us on Instagram at QueerMakingCollective to keep up to date with our programming and to join in the conversation.

Breaking Barriers Through Decolonial Community Based Archival Practice

Posted on By krista

My latest collaboration with Skylee-Storm Hogan is out in the world. We wrote a book chapter, “Breaking Barriers Through Decolonial Community Based Archival Practice” for Archives and Special Collections as Sites of Contestation edited by Mary Kandiuk.

The chapter discusses the work of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) as a way of opposing colonial archival impulses. It focuses on community archival practices, with a look at the work the SRSC has done to engage Survivors and communities in digital spaces.

As always, I’m grateful to for the chance to work with Skylee-Storm on this and the chapter is infinitely stronger because of their efforts and insights.

Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

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

Posted on By krista
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, Michelle Caswell, Identifying and Dismantling White Supremacy in Archives

Photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash

Download or Listen Now: