Oskâpêwis Mentorship Group

University of Alberta, First Peoples' House, artist Jerry Whitehead, photo credit: Debbie Feisst

The Oskâpêwis Mentorship program was created to support early-career Indigenous library, archive, and other information-related employees and Indigenous students in MLIS, MAS, and Library Technician programs. We also welcome the participation of Indigenous information professionals who are farther along in their careers. The Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee recognizes and promotes Indigenous ways of doing things, which includes rounding the hierarchies and celebrating that we are all teachers and learners.

Libraries and educational institutions are inherently colonial institutions, and in Canada there is a history and current practice of assimilation tactics and abuse within these systems which have intergenerational impacts. Oskâpêwis organizers aim to develop a safe space to help resolve these challenges. 

Reconciliation Pole at UBC, Hereditary Chief 7idansuu (James Hart), Haida
Reconciliation Pole, UBC

The Oskâpêwis Mentorship program also provides an opportunity for Indigenous library, archive, and other information-related employees and students to form a strong mentoring community alongside members of the COPPUL Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee This community allows us to support one another while working and studying in colonial environments.

We welcome new members on an ongoing basis. It can be challenging to connect with new students in iSchools across Canada; if you know of a new Indigenous student, please share this information and encourage them to be in touch. Deborah Lee, Indigenous Knowledge Coordinator, can be reached at ikcoordinator@coppul.ca.

News:

We would like to congratulate the winning submission and artist / librarian of the Oskapewis logo submission contest announced on March 24, 2023: Jillian Metchooyeah, a member of the Dene Tha' First Nation in Northern Alberta, and a graduate of the University of Alberta SLIS program in 2022. Jillian is now a Cataloguer at the Red Deer Public Library. Congratulations Jillian! She will be working with an Indigenous graphic design student in the near future so that her artwork will be compatible with this website.