“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.”

Sidney Sheldon

Friday, October 20, is Canadian Library Workers Day!

October brings Canadian Library Month, an annual celebration of libraries, library workers, and the services they provide to their communities. Libraries are the crux of knowledge, community engagement and social awareness. Of course, these important support systems can only be achieved through the work of the people within the library.

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations has designated the third Friday in October as Canadian Library Workers Day. This year, we recognize the valuable contributions made by all those who work in and for libraries in Canada on Friday, October 20.

This day allows us to recognize those who work in our Red River College Polytechnic Library (both NDC and EDC campuses) and celebrate their passion and dedication to serving our students, staff, and faculty.

If you see your friendly Library staff on Friday, or if you wish to come by the library or send an email, please give thanks and recognition for the hard work and dedication that they show each and every day!

Written by Kerry Macdonald — Director, Library and Academic Services

This year’s TRC Week theme is “Colonization Impacts Everyone” and various books and movies tackle the theme and further number one of the 94 calls to “building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.” A call applying to faculty and staff as well in their daily work. 

The Library continues to add Indigenous resources especially as more and more authors publish works as varied as Swampy Cree author David A. Robert’s graphic novel Sugar Falls to Cree scholar Verna Kirkness’s autobiography Creating a Life’s Work. Bringing these voices to the College community during Truth and Reconciliation Week, the Library is having an “Indigenous Voices” book table during the following dates and times: 

• Sept. 25, 1-3pm | Exchange District Campus, Atrium 
• Sept. 28, 11am-2pm | Notre Dame Campus, Library Hallway

Bring your staff/student ID to sign out books and we can recommend more titles from the collection. However, books are not the only formats offered during TRC Week, and the experience of colonization isn’t solely on Turtle Island. 

Featured Titles (And More) 

While the book table will bring a selection of titles, we want to highlight two titles in our collection with more found in the Library’s curated Indigenous Resources Collection.

Decolonizing data: unsettling conversations about social research methods 

(by Jacqueline M. Quinless)

Provides a deeper understanding of the social dimensions of health as applied to Indigenous peoples, who have been historically underfunded and excluded from health services, programs, and quality of care; this has most recently been seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this together: fifteen stories of truth & reconciliation

(by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail)

An eye-opening collection of personal essays by Indigenous and non-Indigenous contributors from across Canada. Without flinching, the contributors—including journalists, academics, and artists—each explore their own “aha” moments regarding Canada’s colonial past and present to ask how we can all move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and anti-racism. 

Featured Videos

Both CBC’s Curio.ca and National Film Board offer outstanding videos on Indigenous topics. To view a few hand-selected options, click on an image below. (login with RRC Polytech credentials may be required to view online resources).

Guides to Get You Started

Guides are a great place to start on any topic as they highlight resources hand-selected by Library staff. Of particular interest is our Indigenous Health and Well-Being guide.

VIEW ALL INDIGENOUS EDUCATION GUIDES

Colonization Impacts Everyone: Two Notable Titles

While we continue to focus on Canada, colonization has impacted cultures around the world from borders to languages, with the fallout felt across generations. Countries like Australia and New Zealand have continued their own reconciliation journey with two films exploring the impact of systemic attempts to erase Indigenous Cultures: 

Once Were Warriors 

In a poor suburb of Auckland, Jake and Beth Heke live a life defined by drunken parties, unstable friendships, and confrontations with authorities. Jake, a complex man with a rascal’s charm, is weighted down by a quick temper, alcoholism, and an evil streak of male entitlement. Beth’s beauty has been scarred by broken dreams and Jake’s beefy fists. Yet her inner strength and desire to save her family make her the solid center around which this story of tragedy and hope is constructed.

Rabbit-Proof Fence

In 1931, Molly and her younger cousins, Gracie and Daisy, were three half-caste children from Western Australia who were taken from their parents under government edict and sent to an institution, were taught to forget their families, their culture, and re-invent themselves as members of “white” Australian society. The three girls begin an epic journey back to Western Australia, travelling 1,500 miles on foot with no food or water, and navigating by following the fence that has been build across the nation to stem an over-population of rabbits.

Have a Question or Comment? Connect with the Library!

Connect with a Library staff member through our Ask Us Chat, our Ask a Question form, or visit one of our service desks during regular Library hours. We would love to hear from you!

Written by Fatima DeMelo – Reference Technician

Note: This post was previously published on May 26, 2022, and has been updated for the current year.

Pride is a celebration of confidence, self-respect, and solidarity as expressed by 2SLGBTQIA+ people, associated with openness about one’s own sexual and/or gender identity, and the celebration of Queer culture and history. It is also a protest in support of human rights and equality for all those who express sexual and gender diversity. This protest demands political, industry, health care, and community leaders address the human rights concerns of the Queer community and move toward positive and informed change.

Encouraging allyship is important for everyone and helps to make the world a more inclusive and affirming place.  We encourage you to activate your allyship by exploring queer resources, data, and history. Library Guides are subject and database-specific curated collections of library and external resources, that provide instruction, and “jumping off points” for unlocking your full capacity to find well-sourced and high-quality resources and information.

Below we have highlighted Guides that support learning about gender and sexual diversity. Learning is an important part of allyship. The impact of 2SLGBTQIA+ -specific allyship also extends beyond benefiting Queer identities by decreasing the likelihood of implicit and explicit bias, and removing barriers to true inclusion.

Why Diversity Matters

When talking about the complexities of cultural identities, we sometimes focus on ethnicity, language, or religion. However, gender and sexual diversity also play a key role in our identities and day-to-day lives. As part of our efforts to foster respect and inclusion, we need to recognize our cultural biases or assumptions, regarding expectations of gender roles/expressions. Rather than either/or, gender and sexual identities are unique, fluid, and complex.

Featured Guide:

>> Intercultural Competence & Diversity – Gender and Sexual Diversity

Why Health and Well-Being Matters

Sexual health can be a challenging issue to discuss in the clinical context. Studies have reported that some healthcare providers may face barriers to discussing sexual health with their 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, including a lack of knowledge of same-sex sexual practices.

“Although 2SLGBTQIA+  people are as diverse as the general Canadian population in their experiences of mental health and well-being, they face higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health.”[i]

Featured Guides:

>> Gender Studies for Health Professionals 

>> Indigenous Health & Well-Being, Two-Spirit Resources

>> Sexual Violence Awareness – Education, Prevention and Supports – 2SLGBTQIA+ Perspectives

Why Statistics Matter

Statistics around gender and sexual diversity help us gain a better understanding of the Queer experience and help researchers, advocates, and the Queer community use data to illustrate the concerns of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Statistics can also be used to track the impact of policy changes that affect 2SLGBTQIA+ people as a whole, or within more specific identity groups. This helps ensure data-informed decisions are made when advocating for positive change or advocating against changes that will negatively impact the needs of gender and sexually-diverse people. Statistics are a powerful lens through which we can view the Queer experience and community.

Queer statistics are often in short supply.  “…Canada made history by becoming the first country in the world to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people! This type of data is so important not only because it allows all Canadians to see themselves in national statistics, but also because it helps to fill a long-standing information gap on gender diversity.”

Featured Guides:

>> Health Indicators & Health-based Statistics (See “Looking for Specific Populations”)

>> Statistics Canada See (“Looking for Specific Populations”)

You’re Invited! Join RRC Polytech in the Pride Parade

The Pride Parade is coming up on Sunday, June 4, 2023!

Everyone in the College community is invited and encouraged to bring friends, family, and pets downtown for a few hours to celebrate inclusivity and share the love, as we show off our support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

On behalf of Library and Academic Services, we wish everyone a safe and happy Pride! We remain dedicated to providing a respectful atmosphere that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable to our students, staff, and external partners. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths and our goal is to provide a barrier-free environment for individuals to succeed in their academic, employment, and research goals.

Written by Ebony Novakowski, Copyright Officer; edited by Linda Fox, Program Support and Promotion

[i] “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer identified People and Mental Health”, Canadian Mental Health Association, https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-queer-identified-people-and-mental-health/

[ii] “Representation is an essential part of treating everyone with dignity and equality (SDG 10)”, Colleges and Institutes Canada, last modified May 16th 2022, Perspectives, May 16 (collegesinstitutes.ca)

A Book Tasting in Honour of Indigenous Heritage Month

You are invited to drop in, sample, and “take out” (sign out) a book with your staff or student ID at the upcoming book tasting in the Library. Our menu will feature a selection of works by Indigenous authors in honour of Indigenous Heritage Month.

When and where?

Exchange District Campus Library

Monday, June 12
11:30am-1:30pm

Notre Dame Campus Library

Monday, June 19
11:30am-1:30pm

Photo Gallery

Exchange District Campus Library – June 12, 2023

Notre Dame Campus Library – June 19, 2023

Sneak Preview: A Book Sampling by Category

The menu will feature five genres of books, such as the sampling you see below. Click on the book covers for more information about each title.

Memoir and Biography

Red River girl : the life and death of Tina Fontaine
Jolly, Joanna, author.
2019

My privilege, my responsibility : a memoir
North, Sheila, author.
2021

Nothing will be different : a memoir
McGowan-Ross, Tara, 1992- author.
2021

Children and Youth

The trail of Nenaboozhoo and other creation stories
Bomgiizhik, 1975- author, illustrator. ; Belcourt, Christi, illustrator, editor.
2020

I sang you down from the stars
Spillett-Sumner, Tasha, 1988- author. ; Goade, Michaela, illustrator.
2021

Fry bread : a Native American family story
Maillard, Kevin Noble, author. ; Martinez-Neal, Juana, illustrator.

Culinary Arts

A feast for all seasons : traditional native people’s cuisine
George, Andrew, Jr., 1963- author. ; Gairns, Robert, author.
2010

Cooking with the Wolfman : Indigenous fusion
Wolfman, David, author.
2017

Tawaẃ : progressive Indigenous cuisine
Chartrand, Shane, author.
2019

Ebooks

Reclaiming Tom Longboat : indigenous self-determination in Canadian sport
Forsyth, Janice, author.
2020

Blue Bear Woman
Bordeleau, Virginia Pesemapeo
2019

Bones
Pennock, Tyler
2020

A two-spirit journey : the autobiography of a lesbian Ojibwa-Cree elder
Chacaby, Ma-Nee, author. ; Plummer, Mary Louisa, author.
2016

Literature

Kisiskâciwan : Indigenous voices from where the river flows swiftly
Archibald-Barber, Jesse Rae, 1972- editor.
2018

Five little Indians
Good, Michelle, author.
2020

Tainna = The unseen ones : short stories
Dunning, Norma, author.
2021

Daughters of the deer
Daniel, Danielle, author.
2022

Non-Fiction

Braiding sweetgrass : Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Kimmerer, Robin Wall, author.
2013

Indian in the cabinet : speaking truth to power
Wilson-Raybould, Jody, 1971-, author.
2021

Returning to ceremony : spirituality in Manitoba Métis communities
Fiola, Chantal, 1982- author.
2021

Black Water : family, legacy and blood memory
Robertson, David, 1977-, author.
2020

Hope to see you there! If you have any questions or feedback for the Library, come and visit us in person or send us a message through our Ask Us Chat — we’d love to hear from you.

Written by Linda Fox – Library Technician, Program Support and Promotion

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –
(Emily Dickinson)

The Wellness Wall

In partnership with Campus Well-Being, the Library will be hosting a Wellness Wall display from April 17th – April 28th, 2023 where students, staff, and faculty can write anonymous responses to the question “What gives you hope?”

The purpose of the Wellness Wall is to give users a space to write anonymous notes with the anticipation of giving hope to those who may need some words of encouragement.

Where can I post a message?

NDC

A tree shape will be hung on the wall near the exit across from the Tutor’s Nook. Post-it notes and materials will be placed near the tree display for users to write their notes.

EDC

A tree shape will be displayed on the window at the entrance to the Reading Room. Post-it notes and materials will be placed near the tree display for users to write their notes.

ONLINE

Can’t make it to the Library? Send a message of hope through the online form. We will write and post your message at the EDC and NDC Libraries on your behalf.

Photo Gallery

Photos of the trees budding with messages of hope at EDC and NDC.

Submitted by Meagan Acquisto and Fatima DeMelo – Library and Academic Services

The events of Inclusion Week only go until November 4, but the work continues for the remaining 51 weeks. Library collections reflect this ongoing work with efforts to keep current and provide access for those wanting to learn more after the last speaker finishes. LibGuides curate resources to help facilitate discovery on specific topics. While some Indigenous guides cover the legacy of residential schools and encountering racism in various settings, two more guides provide resources about diversity and further exploration of racism in Canada’s past and present.

Intercultural Competence & Diversity

One of the earliest guides in our collection, Intercultural Competence & Diversity, introduces viewers to experiences previously unknown but still a daily reality for groups such as the disabled or Black Canadians, to name a few.

In addition to videos and books, organizations feature mainly those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community taking steps toward their true selves. A keyword section recommends search terms to put into OneSearch for further reading and viewing on specific topics.

The guide includes topics related to sexuality, disability issues, and the anti-black racism section.

Anti-Racism Learning Toolkit

The Anti-Black Racism page from the last guide links up with the Anti-Racism Learning Toolkit, a guide devoted to educating about racism with a Canadian focus. The History of Racism section provides websites and other resources about incidents within Canada’s History, including Japanese Internment camps, the Komagata Maru, and many others. Some resources reflect Canada’s past, and plenty of resources help understand the country’s present. Again, a keyword section will supply words to research a topic within the larger subject.

A new addition to the guide is the Anti-Racism Training Section. It’s designed to do alone or as part of a group with videos, articles, and some documentaries requiring college credentials for viewing. Reflection questions can stimulate conversation or pause for thought on the issues.

The Academic Success Centre (ASC) is partnering with Career Services to provide a comprehensive, interactive workshop series on the development of employment documents and skills for students.   

The series will be a combination of presentations by the Career Services team supported by ASC workshops on complementary topics including: Job Search Strategies and Networking, LinkedIn Profile Development, Resumes and Cover letters, and Interview Strategies. By attending all workshop, students will gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed with their job search. The series complements Math, Science, and Communication’s (COMM-2172) Communication for the Workplace course.

These workshops will be designed for students in business related programs. All students are welcome to attend and adapt the information to their field. 

Register Now: To register for the workshops, click here to visit the Get Job Search Ready website. 

Access the LEARN Shell: Click here to self-enroll into the Get Job Search Ready Career Services & ASC LEARN shell.

Workshop Overview

A time to honour and learn

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time dedicated to honouring the vibrant history, culture, strength and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. What better time to take advantage of the latest new arrivals in the Library’s Indigenous section?

These timely resources offer the opportunity to broaden your understanding of the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. Many thanks to Sarah Lee for maintaining the Library’s Indigenous Collection.

New arrivals to our Indigenous collection

#NotYourPrincess: voices of Native American women / Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale.

Indigenous women across North America resound in this book. #Not Your Princess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman. 

Surviving the city / Tasha Spillett; Natasha Donovan.

Tasha Spillet’s graphic-novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one. Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan’s Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape – they’re so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together.

Returning to ceremony: spirituality in Manitoba Métis communities / Chantal Fiola.

Returning to Ceremony is the follow-up to Chantal Fiola’s award-winning Rekindling the Sacred Fire and continues her ground-breaking examination of Métis spirituality, debunking stereotypes such as “all Métis people are Catholic,” and “Métis people do not go to ceremonies.”

Me tomorrow: Indigenous views on the future / compiled and edited by Drew Hayden Taylor.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists, activists, educators and writers, youth and elders come together to envision Indigenous futures in Canada and around the world. Discussing everything from language renewal to sci-fi, this collection is a powerful and important expression of imagination rooted in social critique, cultural experience, traditional knowledge, activism and the multifaceted experiences of Indigenous people on Turtle Island. 

The Prairie Chicken dance tour / Dawn Dumont.

The hilarious story of an unlikely group of Indigenous dancers who find themselves thrown together on a performance tour of Europe in 1972. The Tour is all prepared. The Prairie Chicken dance troupe is all set for a fifteen-day trek through Europe, performing at festivals and cultural events. But then the performers all come down with the flu. And John Greyeyes, a retired cowboy who hasn’t danced in fifteen years, finds himself abruptly thrust into the position of leading a hastily-assembled group of replacement dancers.

Borders / story by Thomas King; illustration by Natasha Donovan.

A graphic-novel adaptation based on the work of one of Canada’s most revered and bestselling authors. “What side do you come from?” On a trip to visit his older sister, who moved away from the family home to Salt Lake City, a young boy and his mother are posed a simple question with a not so simple answer. And when border guards will not accept their citizenship, mother and son wind up trapped in an all-too-real limbo between nations that do not recognize who they are.

We remember the coming of the white man / editors: Sarah Stewart and Raymond Yakeleya; authors: Walter Blondin [and others].

A work in progress since the 1970s, We Remember the Coming of the White Man chronicles the history of the Dene People in the extraordinary time of the early 20th century. Chapters are transcripts of oral histories of ten Elders.

My privilege, my responsibility: a memoir / Sheila North.

In September 2015, Sheila North was declared the Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), the first woman elected to the position. Known as a “bridge builder”, North is a member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation. North’s work in advocacy journalism, communications, and economic development harnessed her passion for drawing focus to systemic racism faced by Indigenous women and girls. 

We all go back to the land: the who, why, and how of land acknowledgements / Suzanne Keeptwo.

Land Acknowledgements often begin academic conferences, cultural events, government press gatherings, and even hockey games. They are supposed to be an act of Reconciliation between Indigenous people in Canada and non-Indigenous Canadians, but they have become so routine and formulaic that they have sometimes lost meaning. Métis artist and educator Suzanne Keeptwo sees the Land Acknowledgement as an opportunity for Indigenous people in Canada to communicate their worldview to non-Indigenous Canadians–a message founded upon Age Old Wisdom about how to sustain the Land we all want to call home.

Did you see us?: reunion, remembrance, and reclamation at an urban Indian residential school / Survivors of the Assiniboia Residential School ; [edited by Andrew Woolford, Morgan Fontaine, and Theodore Fontaine].

The Assiniboia school is unique within Canada’s Indian Residential School system. It was the first residential high school in Manitoba and one of the only residential schools in Canada to be located in a large urban setting. Stitching together memories of arrival at, day-to-day life within, and departure from the school with a socio-historical reconstruction of the school and its position in both Winnipeg and the larger residential school system, Did You See Us? offers a glimpse of Assiniboia that is not available in the archival records. 

Nothing will be different: a memoir / Tara McGowan-Ross.

A neurotic party girl’s coming-of-age memoir about learning to live before getting ready to die. Tara has it pretty good: a nice job, a writing career, a forgiving boyfriend. She should be happy. Yet Tara can’t stay sober. She’s terrible at monogamy. Even her psychiatrist grows sick of her and stops returning her calls. She spends most of her time putting out social fires, barely pulling things off, and feeling sick and tired. Then, in the autumn following her twenty-seventh birthday, an abnormal lump discovered in her left breast serves as the catalyst for a journey of rigorous self-questioning. 

Dadibaajim: returning home through narrative / Helen Olsen Agger.

Dadibaajim narratives are of and from the land, born from experience and observation. Invoking this critical Anishinaabe methodology for teaching and learning, Helen Agger documents and reclaims the history, identity, and inherent entitlement of the Namegosibii Anishinaabeg to the care, use, and occupation of their Trout Lake homelands. 

Indian in the cabinet: speaking truth to power / Jody Wilson-Raybould.

A compelling political memoir of leadership and speaking truth to power by one of the most inspiring women of her generation. This is the story of why Wilson-Raybould got into federal politics, her experience as an Indigenous leader sitting around the Cabinet table, her proudest achievements, the very public SNC-Lavalin affair, and how she got out and moved forward.

Intimate integration: a history of the Sixties Scoop and the colonization of Indigenous kinship / Allyson D. Stevenson.

Privileging Indigenous voices and experiences, Intimate Integration documents the rise and fall of North American transracial adoption projects, including the Adopt Indian and Métis Project and the Indian Adoption Project. Making profound contributions to the history of settler-colonialism in Canada, it sheds light on the complex reasons behind persistent social inequalities in child welfare.

Di-bayn-di-zi-win: to own ourselves: embodying Ojibway-Anishinabe ways / Jerry Fontaine & Don McCaskill.

An indigenized, de-colonized world view for Indigenous leaders and academics seeking a path to reconciliation. Authors makwa ogimaa (Jerry Fontaine) and ka-pi-ta-aht (Don McCaskill) tell their di-bah-ji-mo-wi-nan (personal stories) to understand the cultural, political, social, and academic events in the past fifty years of Ojibway-Anishinabe resistance in Canada.

These are the stories: memories of a 60s Scoop survivor / Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith.

A collection of essays from a 60’s Scoop Survivor.

Home waltz / G.A. Grisenthwaite.

A story of love, heartbreak, and tragedy, Home Waltz delves into suicide, alcohol abuse, body image, and systemic racism. A coming of age story like no other, Home Waltz speaks to one Indigenous teenager’s experience of growing up in a world that doesn’t want or trust him.

Life in the city of dirty water: a memoir of healing / Clayton Thomas-Müller.

An electrifying memoir that braids together the urgent issues of Indigenous rights and environmental policy, from a nationally and internationally recognized activist and survivor. Tying together personal stories of survival that bring the realities of Canada’s First Nations into sharp focus, and lessons learned from a career as a frontline activist committed to addressing environmental injustice at a global scale, Thomas-Müller offers a narrative and vision of healing and responsibility.

Tainna = The unseen ones: short stories / Norma Dunning.

Drawing on both lived experience and cultural memory, Norma Dunning brings together six powerful new short stories centred on modern-day Inuk characters in Tainna. Ranging from homeless to extravagantly wealthy, from spiritual to jaded, young to elderly, and even from alive to deceased, Dunning’s characters are united by shared feelings of alienation, displacement and loneliness resulting from their experiences in southern Canada.

Daughters of the deer / Danielle Daniel.

In this haunting, groundbreaking, historical novel, Danielle Daniel imagines the lives of her ancestors in the Algonquin territories of the 1600s, a story inspired by her family link to a girl murdered near Trois-Rivières in the early days of French settlement.

Sugar Falls : a residential school story / David Robertson; illustratration by Scott Henderson.

From Governor-General’s Award-winning writer David A. Robertson comes this special edition of the timeless graphic novel that introduced the world to the awe-inspiring resilience of Betty Ross, and shared her story of strength, family, and culture.

The trail of Nenaboozhoo and other creation stories / Bomgiizhik; illustrated and edited by Christi Belcourt.

This collection presents legends of Nenaboozhoo, the Ojibway creator spirit, along with other creation stories; sacred stories which were transcribed from the oral storytelling of Isaac Murdoch. The Trail of Nenaboozhoo and Other Creation Stories is a book of art and storytelling that preserve the legends of the Anishinaabe people.

Old Stories, New Ways / Vivian Manasc & Frits Pannekoek.

Through the profound lessons of the seven Grandfather Teachings, architect Vivian Manasc came to understand that the process of planning and designing a building should be a circle, with the beginning and end of the story linked together. The stories Vivian tells in Old Stories, New Ways are also framed by these teachings of Courage, Love, Wisdom, Respect, Truth, Humility and Honesty, with each teaching illuminating an aspect of how working with Dene, Cree, Saulteaux, Métis, Inuit and Inuvialuit communities has influenced her design practice.

Have a comment or question? Connect with the Library!

You may reach us through our Ask Us chat, our Ask a Question form, or visit one of our service desks during regular Library hours. We would love to hear from you!

Written by Linda Fox and Sarah Lee – Library and Academic Services

Pride will officially kick off in Winnipeg on May 27^th with the Human Rights Conference. Pride is a celebration of confidence, self-respect, and solidarity as expressed by 2SLGBTQIA+ people, associated with openness about one’s own sexual and/or gender identity, and the celebration of Queer culture and history. It is also a protest in support of human rights and equality for all those who express sexual and gender diversity. This protest demands political, industry, health care, and community leaders address the human rights concerns of the Queer community and move toward positive and informed change.

Encouraging allyship is important for everyone and helps to make the world a more inclusive and affirming place.  We encourage you to activate your allyship by exploring queer resources, data, and history. Our Guides are subject and database specific curated collections of library and external resources, that provide instruction, and “jumping off points” for unlocking your full capacity to find well sourced and high quality resources and information.

Below we have highlighted our Guides that contain resources to support learning about gender and sexual diversity. Learning is an important part of allyship.  The impact of 2SLGBTQIA+ -specific allyship also extends beyond benefiting Queer identities by decreasing the likelihood of implicit and explicit bias, and removing barriers to true inclusion.

Why Diversity Matters:

When talking about the complexities of cultural identities, we sometimes focus on ethnicity, language, or religion. However, gender and sexual diversity also play a key role in our identities and day-to-day lives. As part of our efforts to foster respect and inclusion, we need to recognize our cultural biases or assumptions, regarding expectations of gender roles/expressions. Rather than either/or, gender and sexual identities are unique, fluid and complex.

Use our Guides – Find Information on Gender and Sexual Diversity:

Guide: Intercultural Competence & Diversity – Gender and Sexual Diversity

Why Health and Well Being Matters:

Sexual health can be a challenging issue to discuss in the clinical context. Studies have reported that some health care providers may face barriers to discussing sexual health with their 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, including lack of knowledge of same-sex sexual practices.

“Although 2SLGBTQIA+  people are as diverse as the general Canadian population in their experiences of mental health and well-being, they face higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health.”[i]

Use our Guides – Find Gender and Sexually Diverse Health and Well Being Information:

Guide: Gender Studies for Health Professionals 

Guide: Indigenous Health & Well-Being, Two-Spirit Resources

Guide: Sexual Violence Awareness – Education, Prevention and Supports – 2SLGBTQIA+ Perspectives

Why Statistics Matter:

Statistics around gender and sexual diversity help us gain a better understanding of the Queer experience and help researches, advocates and the Queer community use data to illustrate the concerns of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Statistics can also be used to track the impact of policy changes that effect 2SLGBTQIA+ people as a whole, or within more specific identity groups. This helps ensure data informed decisions are made when advocating for positive change or advocating against changes that will negatively impact the needs of gender and sexually diverse people. Statistics are a powerful lens through which we can view the Queer experience and community.

Queer statistics are often in short supply.  “Earlier this month, Canada made history by becoming the first country in the world to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people! This type of data is so important not only because it allows all Canadians to see themselves in national statistics, but also because it helps to fill a long-standing information gap on gender diversity.”[iii]

Use our Guides: Find Statistics and Search Instruction:

Guide: Health Indicators & Health-based Statistics See “Looking for Specific Populations”

Guide: Statistics Canada See “Looking for Specific Populations”

On behalf of the RRC Polytech Library we wish everyone a safe and happy Pride. We remain dedicated to providing a respectful atmosphere that is diverse, inclusive and equitable to our students, staff and external partners. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths and our goal is to provide a barrier free environment for individuals to succeed in their academic, employment and research goals.

Written by Ebony Novakowski, Copyright Officer

————————————————————————————————————

[i] “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer identified People and Mental Health”, Canadian Mental Health Association, https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-queer-identified-people-and-mental-health/

[ii] “Representation is an essential part of treating everyone with dignity and equality (SDG 10)”, Colleges and Institutes Canada, last modified May 16th 2022, Perspectives, May 16 (collegesinstitutes.ca)

Red River College Polytechnic is a diverse student and employee community, with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as one of three commitments in our new Strategic Plan. However, as human beings, we all have hardwired unconscious biases that can affect our learning and working relationships and our actions can then affect our efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion.

What is Immersive Stories?

In the context of March 21, International Day against Discrimination, the new Immersive Stories Program will present a series of five one-hour lunchtime sessions.

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty.  

Featured Guests

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

Join us for the following meaningful conversations which will be held on Webex. Participants are welcome to register for up to five sessions in March and April 2022.

Wednesday, March 2 | 12 noon

GUEST: Vassan Aruljothi
HOST: Kaleigh Quinn

Conversation topics: Racism, Discrimination in Malaysia, Deodorant and international students, Racism among people of colour, Effects of colonialism.

Wednesday, March 9 | 12 noon

GUEST: Jocelyne Olson
HOST: Rebecca Hiebert

Conversation topics: Barriers to participation, Neurodivergent change management, Teaching with ADHD, Navigating the workplace, Inaccessible accessibility.

Wednesday, March 23 | 12 noon 

GUEST: Anahita Aminian
HOST: Nora Sobel

Conversation topics: My Ethnicity, My Family, My Religious Journey, My Education and my Approach to Early Childhood Education, My Language and Communication Skills.

Wednesday, March 30 | 12 noon 

GUEST: Ebony Novakowski
HOST: Sarah Lee

Conversation topics: My Sexual Orientation, Morbid Obesity and experienced perceptions, Chronic Illness and Polycystic Kidney Disease, My gender and sexual orientation in relation to work experience, My Family and Religion.

Wednesday, April 6 | 12 noon 

GUEST: Marshall Richard
HOST: Rebecca Hiebert

Conversation topics: Intergenerational trauma, Effects of Colonization, Social Inequities, Racism, Reclaiming Indigenous identities.

Please note that in order to create a safe and brave space for presenters and participants, only the introductions of the presentations will be recorded.

This program is brought to you by the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group within Library and Academic Services, with the support of the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Human Resources Services, and Education Technology Vision (eTV).