2019 MLA Annual Conference

Libraries are steeped in colonization: They prioritize the written word, which contradicts Anishinaabe and Dakota oral traditions; they organize information in ways that oppose Native cultural worldviews; and they undermine the role of Native elders, who are the traditional knowledge keepers in Native communities. At Hennepin County Library, staff who aspire to hold the library more accountable for historic and ongoing harm are engaging in the work of reconciliation. In this context, reconciliation aims to foster healing and repair harm the library has inflicted upon the Native community and includes providing educational support for library staff; building relationships between HCL and Native community partners; and creating opportunities for library staff to openly acknowledge and understand the role settler colonialism has played in HCL's history and continues to play today. Session attendees will learn practical information about these efforts.