Report and Recommendations of the Consultation on Aboriginal Resources and Services - (continued)

Background

The consultation process that eventually resulted in the March meetings emerged from the initiative of the Working Group on Collection Policies at the National Library of Canada. In November 2000, it was evident to this group that Canadians of Aboriginal ancestry had been "under-targeted" by the National Library of Canada in its collection policy and delivery of services. The Working Group initially reviewed various collection policies, attended conferences and meetings, and discussed projects with staff at the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada, the Aboriginal Canada Portal, and the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Library. The Interim Report of the Working Group identified Aboriginal resources and services as an area needing attention.

A draft proposal document, National Library of Canada Initiative on Aboriginal Resources, prepared for the National Librarian in December 2000, proposed strategies and activities based on the perceived needs and the actions required. Three main areas for activity were identified: enrichment, expansion and coordination of collections; Web resources; and digitization of Aboriginal materials. The proposal was sent out as a consultation document to solicit ideas and comments from Aboriginal communities.

Individuals were contacted and libraries and cultural centres were visited. Over 75 people from resource centres, libraries, organizations and institutions across the country were consulted. From the findings of the Working Group's research and these consultations, a report and recommendations entitled All Our Relations was produced in November 2001.

Among the key recommendations of the report were that an external advisory group be established, made up of members who are active in Aboriginal libraries and information centres and who are experts on Aboriginal issues, and that an Aboriginal person be hired to serve as a central contact for both external and internal activities and initiatives. This coordinator position was to be supported by the work of an already established internal committee, the Committee on Aboriginal Resources and Services. That committee, in collaboration with the newly appointed coordinator, identified holding a consultation as one of its priorities. The coordinator and the committee then began to organize a consultation with Aboriginal peoples across Canada that would include both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal representatives working in the area of library services.

One purpose of this consultation was to identify potential members of an external advisory group, and to characterize their roles. Another purpose was to bring together representatives from different regions across Canada and from different types of libraries and resource centres to identify universal issues, to discuss those issues, to formulate and prioritize objectives, and to offer solutions on how these objectives might be achieved, in partnership or collaboration, or by other means, as appropriate.

The consultation developed into a joint initiative, owing to the transformation process uniting the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada to form the new institution, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). The Committee on Aboriginal Resources and Services responded by adding the perspective of archivists and related professionals during the consultation process. The creation of LAC was seen as timely and providing a unique opportunity for a holistic approach to future development of programs and services, in response to the aspirations and needs of Aboriginal communities.

The consultation was held on March 27 and 28, 2003. LAC staff made presentations to the participants on various programs and services from their respective sectors. The presentations were followed by a roundtable and discussion on key issues with the participants. Later, breakout sessions gave the participants opportunities to discuss issues at length within smaller groups, prioritize these issues, and identify the roles of LAC and of regional representatives in improving library services to Aboriginal peoples.

The findings and recommendations that emerged from the consultation process are prefaced in this report by the objectives of the newly created Aboriginal Resources and Services. Most recently, and for additional context, the draft vision statement recommended to LAC by the Aboriginal Heritage and Knowledge internal working group on transformation has been included.

Aboriginal Resources and Services

Throughout the transformation process, LAC's objectives for Aboriginal Resources and Services initiatives have remained the same as those first recommended, established and supported by the internal Committee on Aboriginal Resources and Services.

Aboriginal Resources and Services' main objective is to develop, promote and facilitate access to Aboriginal resources within Canada, through LAC and in partnership with Aboriginal communities and associations, government departments, educational institutions, language and cultural centres, Native Studies programs, genealogical centres, and other organizations whose interests, substantial collections or services are related to Aboriginal communities. It also seeks to identify universal issues and concerns of Aboriginal peoples, and to characterize the roles of LAC and of regional representatives in improving services in this area. As well, it wishes to prioritize the interests and needs of Aboriginal communities regarding such issues as networking, communications, advocacy, education and training, outreach services, access, jurisdiction, administration and planning. It seeks to work in partnership with Aboriginal library and archival communities in developing, promoting and facilitating access to library and information and archival services to Aboriginal peoples and in sharing the richness and diversity of these resources with all Canadians.