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IFLA ARL Hot Topics 2022: Reconciliation - An Australian Perspective
- 1. 1 Reconciliation: an Australian perspective Jayshree Mamtora Claire Ovaska Bronwyn Mathiesen Library & Information Services
- 2. Role of Academic Institutions and Libraries Academic Institutions • Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy • Reconciliation Action Plans Libraries • Educational needs of Indigenous students
- 3. Reconciliation in Context Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. Source: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/
- 4. James Cook University “James Cook University acknowledges that the impact of colonisation, government policies, racial discrimination and prejudice, have had a major effect on the lives of Australia’s First Peoples. We are committed to working together to achieve genuine and sustainable reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community” - Statement of Strategic Intent, 2019
- 5. JCU Library Services • Spaces and Collections – a familiar environment for Indigenous students • Information Literacy Training – specialist support to Indigenous students • Staffing – recruitment and culturally aware staff • Engagement – acknowledgement of First Australians as custodians of the land Kassandra Savage Coming Together and Respecting Difference, 2014 Waanyi and Walangama clan, part of the Gkuthaarn/Kukatj nations
- 6. Spaces and Collections Our libraries provide a welcoming environment for Indigenous students in Townsville and in Cairns Images of Eddie Koiki Mabo Library © Photography by Rob Parsons
- 7. Comments by JCU students in the 2021 Library Client Survey "The library is, and always has been an absolutely FANTASTIC resource, and the people who staff it are LEGENDS. Thank you for your services! I'm especially enjoying JCU's recent commitment to Traditional Owners and the corresponding displays around the library! Fantastic and would love to see even more!" "I love studying and completing my coursework/assignments at the library, it’s where I feel most motivated and engaged in my work."
- 8. Staffing • Recruitment and culturally aware staff Yanti Ropeyarn, JCU Indigenous Library Liaison Officer, recognised for cross-unit collaboration with the 2021 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
- 9. Information Literacy Training • University pathway programs developing core academic skills • Indigenous student orientations • Deliver digital literacy training at JCU regional/remote study centres
- 10. Engagement 1 • Acknowledging First Nations people including Traditional Owners • Eddie Koiki Mabo Legacy Eddie Koiki Mabo and the continuing plaintiffs, Reverend David Passi and James Rice, with lawyer Bryan Keon-Cohen in 1989 Eddie Koiki Mabo on Mer 1989 © Photography by Trevor Graham, courtesy of Yarra Bank Films
- 11. Engagement 2 • Mabo Timeline and Website • Annual Art Exhibition • 50 Treasures Project • HDR Scholarship • National Reconciliation Week activities Eddie Koiki Mabo and the continuing plaintiffs, Reverend David Passi and James Rice, with lawyer Bryan Keon-Cohen in 1989 Eddie Koiki Mabo on Mer 1989 © Photography by Trevor Graham, courtesy of Yarra Bank Films
- 12. What’s Next? JCU Library • Eddie Koiki Mabo: A Timeline of History in the Making eBook • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collection Discovery Project • JCU Indigenous Action Group National advocacy • CAUL Indigenous Knowledges Symposium • CAUL Indigenous Knowledge Advisory Group • QULOC Indigenous Strategy Reference Group © Photographs by JCU Library
- 13. Thank You! This presentation is based on our article: Mamtora, Jayshree, Ovaska, Claire, and Mathiesen, Bronwyn (2021). Reconciliation in Australia: the role of the academic library in empowering the Indigenous community. IFLA Journal, 47 (3). pp. 351-360.
- 14. Questions for the Audience • What do you think of the Australian approach to Reconciliation? • Is there a need for a similar form of reconciliation exist in your country? If so, is there a role for libraries? • Are there other ways for libraries to contribute such as with migrant or marginalised groups, or with repatriation of cultural items?
Editor's Notes
- Wadda Molli or greetings in the Bindal/Juru language, spoken by the traditional owners of the country on which I live and work in Northern Australia This presentation highlights the role of reconciliation in Australian academic life, what reconciliation means and how institutions in Australia are putting it into practice, and outlines some of the actions and activities carried out by James Cook University and its Library to meet reconciliation goals
- Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy In 2017, Universities Australia (UA), the peak sector body in Australia, acknowledged its obligation to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by releasing the Indigenous Strategy 2017-2020. The Strategy outlines UA’s response to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledges that universities have “responsibilities to Australia’s Indigenous people, and to reflect the right of self-determination by working in partnership with Indigenous communities” Substantial progress has been made by Australian universities towards Reconciliation. RAPs Many universities are developing a Reconciliation Action Plan, as it allows for defined actions to be set up and assessed at the end of the projected timeframe, and in this way, clearly assess progress in relation to Reconciliation. University libraries are strategically placed to support the educational needs of the University community, and play a significant role in supporting reconciliation within their institutions.
- At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. In a just, equitable and reconciled Australia, Indigenous children will have the same life chances and choices as non-Indigenous children, and the length and quality of a person’s life will not be determined by their racial background. The vision of Reconciliation Australia, an independent organisation, is that reconciliation is based and measured on five interrelated dimensions: historical acceptance; race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity and unity, as shown on the slide. These five dimensions do not exist in isolation, but are interrelated. Reconciliation cannot be seen as a single issue or agenda; the contemporary definition of reconciliation must weave all of these threads together
- James Cook University or JCU where I work, has its Australian tropical campuses located in North Queensland, an area with a high Indigenous population. (point to map) It is committed to enhance the lives of its Indigenous peoples, through education and research, by developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Whilst addressing the RAP, the University is also addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as the objectives are similar. JCU was the first of 17 university signatories to the University Commitment to the SDGs in Australia, in 2016 (SDSN, 2017). By doing this, the University pledged to, support the goals and amongst other things, “provide the educational opportunity for our students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development” (JCU, 2020a). The SDGs were adopted in 2015 as a call to “improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere”. Each of the University’s campuses and centres, have been gifted with Indigenous names by traditional owners.
- University libraries are well-placed to support the educational needs of the staff and student community and play a significant role in supporting reconciliation within their institutions. JCU Library has a range of services and support, in place for its Indigenous students demonstrating its commitment to reconciliation. The Library has endorsed the (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library, Information and Resource Network) or ATSILIRN Protocols, which act as ‘a guide in the provision of appropriate library services and management of items about Indigenous peoples and cultures’ and “offer a path to reconciliation, a guide to community engagement, and a means to develop cultural competence” (Garwood-Houng & Blackburn, 2014). The intention was to cover all aspects of library services; but at the same time, libraries were not required to implement every Protocol. Local priorities and needs would determine which Protocols were implemented. The artwork above, Coming Together and Respecting Difference was acquired by the University as part of its commitment to implement this RAP. The artwork represents JCU’s story in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way: Circles in the middle depicts JCU as a meeting place Outer circles are JCU’s linkages to communities through their students who return home to share their new knowledge and understandings Different patterns within the hands and arms are the differences between and within Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and multicultural Australia. There are also similarities in the hands and arms used to illustrate us standing together for equity and equality The ripple effect in the arms and hands represents our reconciliation journey; starting small, growing bigger and reaching out to touch more and more lives. The effect gathers momentum to develop support and understandings. The circles represent the importance of yarning circles, meeting circles, and communities, in order that we can connect with each other.
- Spaces and Collections A key feature of the Protocols is to ensure that Indigenous students feel welcome in a familiar environment. The Library on the main Townsville Campus is recognised for its outstanding brutalist architecture, which is softened by curved lines to fit into the savannah woodland dry tropical setting. This is in keeping with the architect, James Birrell’s philosophy to design buildings that touch gently on the earth, and so although at first glance it might seem intimidating, it has been built with sensitivity to its surrounding bushland setting. If it is interpreted as large and intimidating, visual cues can be utilised to promote a feeling of belonging within building spaces.
- Visual cues are utilised to promote a feeling of belonging within building spaces at all campuses. Accordingly, the Library acquires Indigenous artwork and artefacts, as well as resource materials to provide a feeling of belonging and safety for JCU’s Indigenous community through collection purchases. There is an emphasis on collecting monographs that are produced by Indigenous authors and publishers, particularly in relation to the University’s geographic footprint.
- The employment of Indigenous staff is another key feature of the Protocols. Indigenous staff should be seen behind service counters and in workrooms and offices. The University recently released an Indigenous Workforce Strategy, which acknowledges the value of identified Indigenous positions. The Library has had a continuing position for an Indigenous Library Liaison Officer since 1995. The person in this role spends a significant amount of time at public service points providing Indigenous students with a welcoming presence. This person also moves around the University, in particular spending time at the Indigenous Education and Research Centre, creating links between the library and Indigenous students which otherwise may not happen. In the photo Yanti Ropeyarn, winning the VC’s Excellence Award for cross-unit collaboration at the end of last year.
- Universities Australia (2017b) has targeted the higher enrolment and retention of Indigenous students as a goal for universities. Liaison Librarians and the Indigenous Library Liaison Officer, provide specialist support in delivering information and digital literacies, and related academic skills to Indigenous students, so that they can benefit from university education to the fullest extent. University pathway programs are aimed at preparing students who are not ready to study for success in degree-level courses, and internal data reveals that James Cook University’s pathway programs have seen a strong Indigenous uptake. Library staff teach core skills and they are embedded in the University’s Tertiary Access Course, as well as the Certificate and Diploma of Higher Education programs as well as the Master of Philosophy (Indigenous) course
- For the Library, Engagement means acknowledging First Australians as the custodians of the land for tens of thousands of years. The story of the late Eddie Koiki Mabo, an Indigenous Queensland man, is intrinsically woven into the story of James Cook University, and telling his story is both necessary and highly relevant. Eddie Koiki Mabo (1936–1992) was born on the island of Mer, one of the Torres Strait Islands in Far North Queensland, and later lived in Townsville and worked at James Cook University. Mabo was a politically active man and had a strong sense of himself as a Mer Islander. It was during his time at James Cook University that a turning point in his life came when, in conversation with academic friends, he discovered that he had no legal rights to the land on his home island. A series of significant events followed and what resulted, was the formation of a legal team to support Mabo in challenging the Queensland Government. Mabo eventually won the case in the High Court of Australia in 1992. It was a long and difficult journey, but the outcome saw recognition of native title in Australia, doing away with the notion of terra nullius (land belonging to no one) from Australian jurisprudence. These important events are recognised and commemorated at James Cook University with the JCU Townsville library later being named the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in 2008.
- As part of promoting respect and cultural safety for the Indigenous community, the Library carries out a number of regular activities with some of the more significant ones being listed here: The installation of the Mabo Interpretative Wall in the foyer of the library, and its accompanying website telling Mabo’s story in detail, and the associated Eddie Koiki Mabo Timeline website The annual Eddie Koiki Mabo Library Indigenous art exhibition which provides Library staff, students and visitors with the opportunity to participate in the Reconciliation Action Plan in a broad public manner 50 Treasures of which 25% were Indigenous works A scholarship for Australian Indigenous higher-degree research students A number of Reconciliation Week activities including a Uluru Statement of the Heart campaign which calls on a First Nations voice to be enshrined in the Constitution.
- Currently we have in progress, a number of major projects at JCU, as well as nationally including: In order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo Decision this year, we are working on an open educational resource eBook for schools and other audiences which aims to highlight legacy of the Mabo Decision 30 years on. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discovery Collection Project which aims to improve discovery of works by Indigenous creators to promote and highlight Indigenous people, language and culture. Projects around decolonising the collection including discovery and metadata clean up Reconciliation is a weighty responsibility, that needs to be undertaken on a continuous basis.
- Thank You! This presentation is based on our article published in the IFLA Journal last year. Photo: authors (Left to Right: Jayshree Mamtora, Bronwyn Mathiesen, Claire Ovaska) by Eddie Mabo’s Memorial outside the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in Townsville, Queensland.