Native People in the Information Profession

Native People in the Information Profession Panel

Tuesday, April 7

6:00 pm in Mendel 106

Come hear from a panel of three Native American speakers working in the library and information science profession. Their stories, views, and advice are invaluable not just to those planning on going into library science, but to anyone working in information fields, be it marketing, communication, journalism, or information/knowledge management. Panelists include:

• Edwin Schenk (Lakota/Ojibwa): St. Kate's student, Master of Library and Information Science, Library Director at North Central University.
  
  Edwin will give a brief history of Native Americans in LIS and explain how LIS is relevant to Native communities. He will then discuss how Native perspectives are represented/not represented in LIS education, and conclude by sharing some of his experience as a Lakota/Ojibwa in the MLIS program at St. Kate’s.
  
• Jody Gray (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe): Diversity Outreach Librarian and liaison to the Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota
  
  The Department of American Indian Studies at UMN was the first  of its kind originating in 1969.  It has been a leader in language revitalization and sovereignty issues.  Jody will present the major issues to consider when providing library services to an academic department in a university.  What impact does the state and University’s history play in the development of curriculum and student success?  What role can libraries play? 

• Debbie Reese (Tribally enrolled at Nambe Pueblo): author, researcher, and publisher of American Indians in Children's Literature
  
  America loves to love Indians, but the Indians they love are more fiction than fact. In her presentation, Debbie will provide tips of how to tell the difference between materials that accurately portray Native peoples in the U.S. and Canada. With this information, you will be better able to make informed choices in selecting book for your library or classroom and weeding materials.