{"id":66,"date":"2026-07-19T17:22:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T17:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/?p=66"},"modified":"2026-07-19T17:22:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T17:22:34","slug":"hyperlinked-environments-first-nations-peoples-and-the-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/2026\/07\/19\/hyperlinked-environments-first-nations-peoples-and-the-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyperlinked Environments: First Nations peoples and the library"},"content":{"rendered":"

Culturally Safe Libraries <\/strong><\/p>\n

As I reviewed readings about Queensland, Australia, I was struck by the collaboration between First Nations communities and libraries, especially in creating hyperlinked environments and culturally safe spaces for First Nations peoples.<\/p>\n

In the video, \u201cWhat is a culturally safe library?<\/em> (NSLA, 2019) Marika Duczynski described it as a place with visual signifiers which show her culture well represented that make her feel comfortable and at home. Ronald Briggs, said it is an Aboriginal space as well as a space for the wider community, and where the Indigenous collection is developed. The National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) published competencies (2023), which include celebrating and recognizing diversity, engaging in respectful partnerships, demonstrating culturally competent work practices, and culturally responsive library services.<\/p>\n

At the Indigenous Knowledge Center (IKC) is helping bridge the digital divide by providing programming using creative digital tools for art and storytelling. After identifying barriers to digital access among First Nations Peoples with 49% of people high excluded from technology (Reynolds, 2026), the IKC project gives people the opportunity to try and gain experience with new technologies, working to bridge the digital divide (mreynolds, 2025). Other projects by IKC include information sessions about online safety and the use of AI in scams (Reynolds, 2026b), and eSports tournaments (Reynolds, 2026a).<\/p>\n

While exploring other resources through State Library of Queensland I found a 2024 truth-telling and treaty workshop for public librarians to support the initiation of truth-telling process at public libraries and IKCs (State Library Queensland, 2024). The First Nations Peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have been working on a path towards treaty, and came to an understanding that a path to treaty was would be challenging without a truth-telling and reconciliation process (State Library Queensland, 2024). As First Nations Peoples organized across Queensland to become treaty ready the Truth and Treaty Body called on the support of Queensland librarians to support their efforts in having a shared understanding of local history. Truth-telling must lead by Frist Nations peoples, in their terms and in their time. The library is a partner as an information hub, providing access to research materials, accessibility of collection and resources. During the workshop, keynote speaker Katie Kriss noted that relevant information for the truth-telling process is often fragmented across institutions, such as the Queensland State Archives and the State Museum, making it harder to piece together a complete narrative. Thinking about the hyperlinked library in this context, I think of how the library could partner with these institutions and Frist Nations peoples to reduce friction. The State Library of Queensland does have some collection resources under their truth-telling blogs, with a range of scanned primary sources documents like diaries, maps, and letters. Thinking back to what makes a culturally safe library, Queensland has many resources, blogs, collections, interviews, which provide historical context to support truth-telling. Later in 2024 the Queensland government abandoned the path to treaty for First Nations People (Australian Human Rights Commission,2024). \u00a0Without support of the state, the efforts of knowledge and memory institutions are probably even more important to move Queensland towards a shared understanding of their history.<\/p>\n

A personal reflection:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was pursuing my M.Ed. in Washington state, I was struck by the John McCoy (lulila\u0161) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington state<\/em>, a pre-k \u2013 12 tribally developed curriculum to be taught in all schools (Washington Office of Superintend of Public Instruction, n.d.), the incorporation of \u00a0Indigenous Knowledge and into the science curriculum (Government of British Colombia, n.d.), \u00a0how visually represented First Nations Peoples of Canada are on the UBC campus and around the city. This was noteworthy to me, because in California, there is an absence of Indigenous representation. History plays a role here, and that is a much longer story, Canada and the US had Indigenous boarding schools which sought to erode Indigenous language, culture and relationships (The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition). California is home to the highest Native American population in the US and most Indigenous nations without federal recognition (Prado 2022). Spanish colonization and development of missions led to the death of 37,000 California Indigenous peoples at the missions (Clarke, 2016). Encouraging the land grabs during the time of the Gold Rush, California government put bounties on the heads on the California Indigenous peoples (Helvarg, 2024). With this long history of explicit erasure of Indigenous culture, one that I was raised in and taught in, I am deeply interested in how California can move forward in a path of truth and reconciliation. I was disheartened to learn that Queensland abandoned these efforts, claiming that truth-telling divides people rather than unites them (Simpson, 2024), we have seen similar tactics in the US with the erasure of removal of exhibits on slavery (Zaru, 2026) or the erasure of our Trans community (Kim, 2025). I believe it is the job of libraries to be memory institutions and stand up to fascism, because the truth matters and is necessary in a truth and reconciliation process.<\/p>\n

References: \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia Human Rights Commission. (2024, December 4). Queensland bills a major step backwards for the rights of First Nations people.<\/em> https:\/\/humanrights.gov.au\/about-us\/media-centre\/media-releases\/queensland-bills-major-step-backwards-rights-first-nations-people<\/a><\/p>\n

Government of British Columbia. (2020, October 5). Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives in K-12 curriculum<\/em>. BC\u2019s Curriculum. \u00a0https:\/\/curriculum.gov.bc.ca\/sites\/curriculum.gov.bc.ca\/files\/curriculum\/indigenous-knowledge-and-perspectives\/science-K-12-indigenous-knowledge-and-perspectives.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Helvarg, D. (2024). <\/em>The dark history of California\u2019s gold rush. American Indian.<\/em> 25<\/em>(3). https:\/\/www.americanindianmagazine.org\/story\/California-gold-rush<\/a><\/p>\n

Kim, J. (2025, February 14). Park service erases ‘transgender’ on Stonewall website, uses the term ‘LGB’ movement. <\/em>NPR. https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/02\/14\/g-s1-48923\/stonewall-monument-transgender-park-service<\/a><\/p>\n

mreynolds. (2025, March 25). Digital skills spark new creative ideas in Arkai (Kubin) on Mua Island<\/em>. State Library Queensland. https:\/\/www.slq.qld.gov.au\/blog\/digital-skills-spark-new-creative-ideas-arkai-kubin-mua-island<\/a><\/p>\n

National and State Libraries of Australasia. (2023, May 13). Indigenous cultural competency principles<\/em>. https:\/\/www.nsla.org.au\/resources\/indigenous-cultural-competency-principles\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Prado, Y. (2022, August 11). California Indian tribes denied resources for decades as federal acknowledgement lags. <\/em>San Francisco Public Press. https:\/\/www.sfpublicpress.org\/california-indian-tribes-denied-resources-for-decades-as-federal-acknowledgement-lags\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Reynolds, M. (2026, January 13a). IKC eSports tournament creates digital pathways for remote First Nations communities. <\/em>State Library Queensland. https:\/\/www.slq.qld.gov.au\/blog\/ikc-esports-tournament-creates-digital-pathways-remote-first-nations-communities<\/a><\/p>\n

Reynolds, M. (2026, February 6b). Safer Internet Day 2026: Building safer and more confident digital communities across Queensland.<\/em> State Library Queensland. \u00a0https:\/\/www.slq.qld.gov.au\/blog\/safer-internet-day-2026-building-safer-and-more-confident-digital-communities-across<\/a><\/p>\n

Simpson, F. (2024, November 28). A fresh start for Queensland: Path to Treaty Act repealed as Indigenous communities receive direct funding boost. <\/em>Queensland Government. https:\/\/statements.qld.gov.au\/statements\/101654<\/a><\/p>\n

State Library Queensland. (2024, February 28). Truth-telling and Treaty through public libraries<\/em> [Video]. https:\/\/plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au\/professional-development\/events\/truth-telling-and-treaty-through-public-libraries<\/a><\/p>\n

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. (n.d.). John McCoy (lulila\u0161) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal sovereignty in Washington state<\/em>. https:\/\/ospi.k12.wa.us\/student-success\/resources-subject-area\/john-mccoy-lulilas-time-immemorial-tribal-sovereignty-washington-state<\/a><\/p>\n

Zaru, D. (2026, July 3). Court clears way for Trump admin to ‘immediately’ replace slavery exhibit in Philadelphia ahead of July 4. <\/em>ABC News. https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/court-clears-trump-admin-immediately-replace-slavery-exhibit\/story?id=134443527<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Culturally Safe Libraries As I reviewed readings about Queensland, Australia, I was struck by the collaboration between First Nations communities and libraries, especially in creating hyperlinked environments and culturally safe spaces for First Nations peoples. In the video, \u201cWhat is a culturally safe library? (NSLA, 2019) Marika Duczynski described it as a place with visual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":867,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-posts","post-preview"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/867"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66\/revisions\/67"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/ldee50\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}