Creating safe and welcoming spaces

Proposal of the creation of a Decolonized Gathering Space at the BSJ

Campus Saint-Jean

Contributor
Campus Saint-Jean

Proposal of the creation of a Decolonized Gathering Space at the BSJ (Bibliothèque Saint-Jean), as a place to initiate meaningful conversations and expressions around decolonization and reconciliation for our students, faculty, staff and members of the public.

Activity Details
Feb 2020: Proposal of the creation of a Decolonized Gathering Space at the Bibliothèque Saint-Jean (BSJ), as a place to initiate meaningful conversations and expressions around decolonization and reconciliation for our students, faculty, staff and members of the public. The emphasis would be on international decolonization and Indigenous expression, important to the Francophone population in Alberta, which has seen a rise in immigration and diversity. The space also has the potential to impact and inspire our community for years to come. (Bibliothèque Saint-Jean received $20,000 from the U of A Library's Project Leadership Fund to redesign the space in front of the service counter into a decolonized space. The grant application was prepared by Debbie Feisst and Céline Gareau Brennan.) Feb 2023 update: funding approved, room being designed, expected completion before Aug 2023

Campus Saint-Jean is ending colonial/religious ceremonies

Campus Saint-Jean

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Campus Saint-Jean

Campus Saint-Jean is ending colonial/religious ceremonies.

Activity Details
Campus Saint-Jean is ending colonial/religious ceremonies.

Decolonize the Buildings

Campus Saint-Jean

Contributor
Campus Saint-Jean

Campus Saint-Jean is engaging in a process to decolonize the buildings (rename, remove religious artefacts, etc.).

Activity Details
Campus Saint-Jean is engaging in a process to decolonize the buildings (rename, remove religious artefacts, etc.).

Official Government of Canada Residential School Apology

Education

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Faculty of Education

The Official Government of Canada Residential School Apology (2008) text was installed in all Faculty of Education units.

Activity Details
The Official Government of Canada Residential School Apology (2008) text was installed in all Faculty of Education units.

Purchase of Kevin Pee-Ace Painting

Education

Contributor
Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education purchased the Kevin Pee-Ace Painting (2018) “From Residential Schools to Reconciliation.”

Activity Details
The Faculty of Education purchased the Kevin Pee-Ace Painting (2018) “From Residential Schools to Reconciliation.”

Presenting Our Presence

Contributor
Institutional

Presenting Our Presence — or POP — is a monthly vodcast and podcast that amplifies the voices and visibility of the Indigenous knowledge-holders, learners and change-makers who enliven the University of Alberta community.

Activity Details
Presenting Our Presence — or POP — is a monthly vodcast and podcast that amplifies the voices and visibility of the Indigenous knowledge-holders, learners and change-makers who enliven the University of Alberta community. POP’s Indigenous-led protocols and ethics centre knowledge holders' sovereignty as stewards of their own stories.

Alberta History Mural Project

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Libraries and Museums had participation and representation in the Alberta History Mural Project which includes undertaking a process towards a resolution for the mural in Rutherford Library. (2021-present)

Activity Details
Libraries and Museums had participation and representation in the Alberta History Mural Project which includes undertaking a process towards a resolution for the mural in Rutherford Library. (2021-present)

Creating Indigenous learning spaces

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Creating Indigenous learning spaces in the Law library and Bibliothèque Saint-Jean. (2020 - present)

Activity Details
Creating Indigenous learning spaces in the Law library and Bibliothèque Saint-Jean. (2020-present)

Development of an Indigenous Learning Space

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Development of an Indigenous Learning Space in the new Health Sciences Library. Work with architects and facilities staff and consultations with Knowledge Keepers and students to guide the creation and use of the space. (2021-present)

Activity Details
Development of an Indigenous Learning Space in the new Health Sciences Library. Work with architects and facilities staff and consultations with Knowledge Keepers and students to guide the creation and use of the space. (2021-present)

Include Indigenous art in the space

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Working with the Sperber Library team to include Indigenous art in the space.

Activity Details
Working with the Sperber Library team to include Indigenous art in the space.

Art in Focus

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Art in Focus: This is a series of online spotlights on artists and/or artworks from our collection. For example, we recently had (not an exhaustive list): 'Stopped to Talk' by Allen Sapp, OC, RCA. Nêhiyaw (Cree) artist Allen Sapp is widely known for his observational paintings that depict scenes of daily life on the Canadian Prairies.

Activity Details
Art in Focus: This is a series of online spotlights on artists and/or artworks from our collection. For example, we recently had (not an exhaustive list): “Stopped to Talk” by Allen Sapp, OC, RCA. Nêhiyaw (Cree) artist Allen Sapp is widely known for his observational paintings that depict scenes of daily life on the Canadian Prairies. “Dismembered/Remembered” by Marion Tuu'luq. Marion Tuu’luq was a prolific Inuk textile artist and craftswoman who primarily utilized sewing in her artmaking. “Repose” by Daphne Odjig. Hailed as one of the founding members of the arts advocacy group, the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation (PNIAI), multidisciplinary artist and author Daphne Odjig’s work has long captivated audiences.

Acquiring works by Indigenous artists

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Acquisition strategy for the art collection: we are acquiring works by Indigenous artists.

Activity Details
Acquisition strategy for the art collection: we are acquiring works by Indigenous artists.

Include Indigenous art

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Working with various units at the U of A to include Indigenous art.

Activity Details
Working with various units at the U of A to include Indigenous art.

Materialities and Meaning of Past, Present, and Future

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Online exhibitions that have an Indigenous focus: Materialities and Meaning of Past, Present, and Future (Faculty of Arts Signature Research Area Future of the Past). How is the past constructed by different social groups and how are these social categories distinguished and interconnected? How has this changed over time?

Activity Details

Online exhibitions that have an Indigenous focus:

Materialities and Meaning of Past, Present, and Future (Faculty of Arts Signature Research Area Future of the Past). How is the past constructed by different social groups and how are these social categories distinguished and interconnected? How has this changed over time? Materialities and Meaning of Past, Present, and Future brings together human ecologists, anthropologists, art historians, classicists, historians, and archaeologists working at the University of Alberta. This exhibition focuses on deconstructing these questions. It provides examples from material culture studies that address changing perspectives on the intersections of gender, identity, race and ethnicity, the language of power and the study of under-represented groups.

Shifting Geographies: Inuit Art from the University of Alberta Art Collection (2019). There was an in-person exhibition as well as an online. The online version is still available.

Physical exhibitions with an Indigenous focus

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Physical exhibitions with an Indigenous focus: Shifting Geographies: Inuit Art from the University of Alberta Art Collection (2019).

Activity Details
Physical exhibitions with an Indigenous focus: Shifting Geographies: Inuit Art from the University of Alberta Art Collection (2019).

Reburial of Ancestors remains

Libraries and Museums

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Working with colleagues and communities on the reburial of Ancestors remains.

Activity Details
Working with colleagues and communities on the reburial of Ancestors remains.