Indigenous Matters Special Interest Group

The SIG Indigenous Matters is a global network of people with an interest and passion for quality library and information services for and with indigenous peoples.  Our information exchange focuses in a positive direction on services today with an eye on the future while honoring the past.  As with other indigenous gatherings, we gather with respect for each other, generosity in spirit, and a desire to improve the lives of the next generation.  This group is sponsored by the Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section

The SIG Indigenous Matters invites proposals for papers that illustrate how library and information organisations demonstrate cultural responsiveness for and with indigenous peoples.  This could be through recruitment, policy, practice, continuing professional development and/or something completely outside the box.  We are seeking contribution’s that trigger the imagination; inspires positive change; dares others to replicate, or reaffirms what does not work. 

Aligned with the Congress theme: 'Librarians, Citizens, Societies: Confluence of Knowledge', the SIG Indigenous Matters Open Session aims to identify, compare and address the challenges experienced when western world view meets indigenous world view or vice versa and how these issues are worked through by, or impact, library and information partnerships with indigenous communities and the creation of shared cultural meaning. 

The goal is to create a diverse programme of 4-6 speakers representing indigenous peoples/ library and information organisations from different parts of the world who have different experiences to share.

Subjects of interest

Subjects of interest may include but are not limited to:

• Organisational culture and development
• Models and frameworks for indigenous community partnerships and engagement
• Digitisation – incorporating indigenous values and principles
• Indigenous subject headings – inclusive cataloguing, improved access to information
• Cultural compentencies for library and information practitioners, management and decision makers
• Collection development – discerning quality resources written about, for and by indigenous peoples
• Social inclusion through symbolism - architectural design, signage, use of space
• Recruitment and selection – attracting and retaining talent, working from the inside out
• Opportunities, challenges, implications and solutions for future library services

Submission Guidelines

Proposed papers must be an original work and not have been published elsewhere. 

Please submit the paper in English and include:

1. Title of proposed presentation;
2. Abstract of the proposed presentation (no more than 500 words in English);
3. Name(s) of presenter(s);
4. Professional role (or official title of presenter(s);
5. Presenter's institutional affiliation, if any;
6. Presenter's e-mail address; and
7. Brief biography of presenter(s).

Proposals will be evaluated by the Programme Panel members of the SIG Indigenous Matters.

Selected presenters will need to prepare a formal paper, as well as Power Point slides.  At least one author will be expected to attend conference to deliver the presentation.

All papers that are presented at the WLIC 2014 will be made available online via the IFLA Library under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.  Authors of accepted papers must sign IFLA’s Author Form. 

Important dates and timelines

Please email your proposal for papers on or before 3 February 2014 to:

Te Paea Paringatai
Convenor, SIG Indigenous Matters
Email: tumuaki@trw.org.nz

Important dates