Hoʻokele Naʻauao 2022: “Lifting Our Hands: Indigenous Sovereignty in Libraries”

Credit: Na Hawaii Imi Loa

This presentation, featuring Kayla Lar-Son (University of British Columbia) was given on June 15, 2022 at Hoʻokele Naʻauao 2022, “ʻĀina: Sources + Systems.” Hoʻokele Naʻauao is the distinguished Hawaiian librarianship symposium hosted by Nā Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa.

Abstract: Libraries have long been the stewards of Indigenous cultural materials including Indigenous stories, Knowledges and Indigenous research which may or may not have been ethically conducted. But are libraries actually the best stewards for these collections? In this session we will explore the concept of Indigenous Data/Knowledge Sovereignty and how it relates to libraries, as well as discover ways in which libraries can work with Indigenous communities to evaluate our own institutional priorities and procedures to develop culturally appropriate protocols, and repatriate digital and non-digital collections.