Outcome: Indigenous Matters Section 50, formally established January 2016
This is a Call to Action! We need 10 more registrations to form the section.
Registration is open to any IFLA member (individuals or associations and institutions) passionate about indigenous peoples, their culture, language, and knowledge systems. Collaboration is essential for strong societies and strong libraries. It’s an effective way for us to connect our collections to our communities.
Registration form – IFLA Indigenous Matters Section – deadline 31 October 2015
Background: Established in December 2008, the Indigenous Matters special interest group evolved out of IFLA Past President Alex Bryne’s Presidential Task Force on Indigenous Matters.
Original charge: Considers the broad range of issues relating to indigenous peoples, indigenous knowledge and libraries and information services.
Timeline: There will be a two year transition period during which IFLA requires written confirmation from forty IFLA members (Associations, Institutions, and Individuals/Personal Affiliates) that they are willing to join the section by completing the registration form and emailing this through to IFLA HQ by 31 October 2015.
Future work: The new Section will be the central hub for indigenous matters in IFLA and there are exciting projects to undertake in the near future, such as:
- Collaboration and partnership with the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum (IILF), progressing outcomes from IILF;
- Developing an indigenous matters chapter for the Library Services to Multicultural Populations Manifesto
- Cross section collaboration within IFLA –for example Libraries for Children and Young Adults –guideline review
- Working closer with the Education and Training Section and potentially developing an assessment framework for LIS Curriculum Core Element 11: Awareness of Indigenous Knowledge Paradigms; and
- Impact of digitisation –the new colonialism? Exploring the opportunities and challenges for indigenous peoples with open data and access environments.