Access Conference 2018 Opening Keynote: Sheila Laroque #AccessYHM
Access Conference 2018
Opening Keynote
Sheila Laroque
My War Pony is a Prius: Truth and Reconciliation in Times of Technology
Sacred rites in Catholicism; many Metis are raised Catholic. Focus on reconciliation (previously confession), a lot of thought and process, not just drive-through sin cleansing. Deeply reflect on what they have done and what they are going to do. Canadian government came to reconciliation through largest class action lawsuit in Canadian history - was not reconciliation freely started. In Catholicism, humans asking divine creator for forgiveness for our failings (which are inbuilt). In Canada, fried as two equal parties coming together again, but they've never been together, and have never been equal in power. Indigenous peoples are not a divine being inclined to forgive. if truth is required for reconciliation, truth is fundamental but may no the possible to get to. The TRC did not come out of nowhere, is a result of largest class action suit in Canadian history. First step to process for reconciliation is to begin the process of becoming citizens and making it possible for indigenous people to be together. Jesse Brown's podcast Canadaland- since 1960 indigenous peoples have been able to vote in Canada, so now seeing first indigenous people with full citizenship rights. Can be a shocking concept. But the peoples have been here and succeeding for a long time, but only now are Canadians being brought to listen.
Indigenous spirituality is complicated, both valorized and demonized. Some are Catholic. In thinking about processes of reconciling Canada has come to - what do these processes mean for the state, or individuals, or communities as a whole? There have been more than 50 TRCs worldwide for equally horrific crimes. Canadian TRC didn't have weight behind it or power to prosecute for crimes.
If a rue moment of reconciliation, should see equal ramifications on both sides. Hardest truths: there will never be state sanctioned reconciliation because state benefits from ongoing colonization of these lands. It will never be to abolish the state and give back the land. After the TRC finalized, reminds of Catholic sacrament of confirmation where believers are asked to confirm choice of religion after baptism (in reality, little choice). Needing to be dragged to reconcile through class action suit is like reluctance/refusal to be confirmed and being forced to.
How do the Metis fit in? They don't. Call to action 29 of 94 from proceedings of TRC - how could this proceed without everyone being included? Entire volume 3 of TRC report is about Metis experience. The Metis not the only people excluded from the TRC process. Truth: we've always been comfortable with leaving certain groups of people out of the design process.
Volunteered at TRC event in 2012. When Sheila Rogers introduced woman from public library to discuss involvement in reconciliation, was wary and didn't see that library had any place in reconciliation - felt like too much whiteness in the room, didn't come to TRC to listen to white people. Then she started to talk about new hiring and one branch on 20th street (coded language for historically low income and negative connotations thereof). Sheila met Donna Wells later, who became manager when she was hired.
Importance of being able to see ourselves in education, and seeing education as synonymous with technology. Is it the technology, the individual teacher, or the system that fails our students. when we don't see a role for ourselves sin a system such as education, there isn't a value in them. If the best education system in the world is still excluding people, what is the value? It is harder for libraries to appeal to a wider audience if the audience hasn't had a great experience with education or reading. Having common middle class experiences growing up and into adulthood isn't reflected in library content and collections. Archives house truth in terms of schools, but housing only generational traumas and tragedy will turn many indigenous peoples away. Metis people can be normal and boring. Like many other library audiences, in search of stories that are entertaining while also reflecting back on experiences folks can relate to.
Seeming contradictions Maskwacis Cree language learning app. In the area, cell service is spotty at best. App in place hard to get cell service? Makes sense - people build dinfraastructur based on current needs and also future anticipated needs. Grezky - goes to where the puck is going to be, not where it is. we should have same sense of building our future needs when building things ike this app. Not everyone in that community lives there, so they can find information about themselves and their community using technology they've grown accustomed to.
"Digital natives" - the term is meant to reflect people who have grown up with some familiarity with technology. Google it - lot of white people and corporate graphics. Having a term that means having something already within their environment being akin to 'native' is uncomfortable at best. This term is never used to refer to indigenous people, this is where classism appears at intersection of race and technology. if we see digital natives as being mid to upperclass people and we don't see indigenous people as part of our middle class then we are exclusionary. Libraries say they use technology to break down barriers, but here that hasn't been the case. As we find the middle class and universities and libraries and many other institutions indigenizing, we find more and more people occupying spaces that wouldn't have been associated with them before, our paradigms will also need to shift.
3Ds of how indigenous people are represented (dancing/drumming, drinking, or dead)- change to Ts - tools, technology and traditions - using and creating fascinating tools for themselves and for other cultures. Indigenous people have always been creating tools that have been used by other cultures for centuries, she just hopes that this time they get the credit for it. Right now technology isn't seen as indigenous, and indigenous people are taken to court for not using tech 'correctly.'
There's often been an emphasis on traditional teachings, often gets lost that there are other things they need to get involved in too. Can always learn new technical skills and tools. 3D and indigenous - until we can instantly think of what people have made in their makerspaces, then we have a long way to go.
Reconciliation: Where does reconciliation fit in? on 11/15/2015, CBC closed comments section on all stories related to indigenous stories until thought could be put into how comments could be moderated. 3 years later haven't opened comments, can't trust that stories of indigenous people won't be met with hate. If we can't have a comments section, then we can't have reconciliation.
What she's decided to share have been more personal stories. reconciliation is a personal healing journey not easily taught.
Opening Keynote
Sheila Laroque
My War Pony is a Prius: Truth and Reconciliation in Times of Technology
Sacred rites in Catholicism; many Metis are raised Catholic. Focus on reconciliation (previously confession), a lot of thought and process, not just drive-through sin cleansing. Deeply reflect on what they have done and what they are going to do. Canadian government came to reconciliation through largest class action lawsuit in Canadian history - was not reconciliation freely started. In Catholicism, humans asking divine creator for forgiveness for our failings (which are inbuilt). In Canada, fried as two equal parties coming together again, but they've never been together, and have never been equal in power. Indigenous peoples are not a divine being inclined to forgive. if truth is required for reconciliation, truth is fundamental but may no the possible to get to. The TRC did not come out of nowhere, is a result of largest class action suit in Canadian history. First step to process for reconciliation is to begin the process of becoming citizens and making it possible for indigenous people to be together. Jesse Brown's podcast Canadaland- since 1960 indigenous peoples have been able to vote in Canada, so now seeing first indigenous people with full citizenship rights. Can be a shocking concept. But the peoples have been here and succeeding for a long time, but only now are Canadians being brought to listen.
Indigenous spirituality is complicated, both valorized and demonized. Some are Catholic. In thinking about processes of reconciling Canada has come to - what do these processes mean for the state, or individuals, or communities as a whole? There have been more than 50 TRCs worldwide for equally horrific crimes. Canadian TRC didn't have weight behind it or power to prosecute for crimes.
If a rue moment of reconciliation, should see equal ramifications on both sides. Hardest truths: there will never be state sanctioned reconciliation because state benefits from ongoing colonization of these lands. It will never be to abolish the state and give back the land. After the TRC finalized, reminds of Catholic sacrament of confirmation where believers are asked to confirm choice of religion after baptism (in reality, little choice). Needing to be dragged to reconcile through class action suit is like reluctance/refusal to be confirmed and being forced to.
How do the Metis fit in? They don't. Call to action 29 of 94 from proceedings of TRC - how could this proceed without everyone being included? Entire volume 3 of TRC report is about Metis experience. The Metis not the only people excluded from the TRC process. Truth: we've always been comfortable with leaving certain groups of people out of the design process.
Volunteered at TRC event in 2012. When Sheila Rogers introduced woman from public library to discuss involvement in reconciliation, was wary and didn't see that library had any place in reconciliation - felt like too much whiteness in the room, didn't come to TRC to listen to white people. Then she started to talk about new hiring and one branch on 20th street (coded language for historically low income and negative connotations thereof). Sheila met Donna Wells later, who became manager when she was hired.
Importance of being able to see ourselves in education, and seeing education as synonymous with technology. Is it the technology, the individual teacher, or the system that fails our students. when we don't see a role for ourselves sin a system such as education, there isn't a value in them. If the best education system in the world is still excluding people, what is the value? It is harder for libraries to appeal to a wider audience if the audience hasn't had a great experience with education or reading. Having common middle class experiences growing up and into adulthood isn't reflected in library content and collections. Archives house truth in terms of schools, but housing only generational traumas and tragedy will turn many indigenous peoples away. Metis people can be normal and boring. Like many other library audiences, in search of stories that are entertaining while also reflecting back on experiences folks can relate to.
Seeming contradictions Maskwacis Cree language learning app. In the area, cell service is spotty at best. App in place hard to get cell service? Makes sense - people build dinfraastructur based on current needs and also future anticipated needs. Grezky - goes to where the puck is going to be, not where it is. we should have same sense of building our future needs when building things ike this app. Not everyone in that community lives there, so they can find information about themselves and their community using technology they've grown accustomed to.
"Digital natives" - the term is meant to reflect people who have grown up with some familiarity with technology. Google it - lot of white people and corporate graphics. Having a term that means having something already within their environment being akin to 'native' is uncomfortable at best. This term is never used to refer to indigenous people, this is where classism appears at intersection of race and technology. if we see digital natives as being mid to upperclass people and we don't see indigenous people as part of our middle class then we are exclusionary. Libraries say they use technology to break down barriers, but here that hasn't been the case. As we find the middle class and universities and libraries and many other institutions indigenizing, we find more and more people occupying spaces that wouldn't have been associated with them before, our paradigms will also need to shift.
3Ds of how indigenous people are represented (dancing/drumming, drinking, or dead)- change to Ts - tools, technology and traditions - using and creating fascinating tools for themselves and for other cultures. Indigenous people have always been creating tools that have been used by other cultures for centuries, she just hopes that this time they get the credit for it. Right now technology isn't seen as indigenous, and indigenous people are taken to court for not using tech 'correctly.'
There's often been an emphasis on traditional teachings, often gets lost that there are other things they need to get involved in too. Can always learn new technical skills and tools. 3D and indigenous - until we can instantly think of what people have made in their makerspaces, then we have a long way to go.
Reconciliation: Where does reconciliation fit in? on 11/15/2015, CBC closed comments section on all stories related to indigenous stories until thought could be put into how comments could be moderated. 3 years later haven't opened comments, can't trust that stories of indigenous people won't be met with hate. If we can't have a comments section, then we can't have reconciliation.
What she's decided to share have been more personal stories. reconciliation is a personal healing journey not easily taught.
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