A University of Northern British Columbia researcher is leading a national task force examining how the archival community across the country can better handle material related to Indigenous people.
Erica Hernández-Read, an archivist at the Northern B.C. Archives, has received a $182,000 grant to carry out the work.
She and a team of archivists and Indigenous heritage professionals are to design a framework that engages and includes Indigenous record keepers, their perspectives, methodologies and concerns within Canadian archival theory, practice and education.
“Archives are also proactively identifying Indigenous-related materials within their holdings, but many are unsure of how to reach out to the communities represented - afraid of making a mistake, or causing damage to already shaky relationships," Hernández-Read said.
The work will also look at how best to respond to a particular call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The project is titled "Establishing a framework for reconciliation action and awareness within the Canadian archival system" and the grant is from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Two other UNBC researchers are co-applicants on grants from the SSHRC being led by other institutions.
School of business adjunct professor Rick Colbourne is a co-applicant on a $345,000 Insight Grant for a York University-led project titled "Indigenous social entrepreneurship: A co-generated approach."
Outdoor recreation and tourism management associate professor John Shultis is a co-applicant on a $200,000 partnership development grant for a University of Alberta-led project titled "Integrating social science, Indigenous, and local knowledge into park management, planning and policy making."
