The Prince Rupert Library (PRL) is committed to the process of reconciliation with the First Nations people of this area and local urban Indigenous communities. In the spirit of reconciliation, we respect unity and collaboration in our coexistence upon the unceded territory of the Ts'msyen Nation. We welcome all to PRL.
PRL has responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action [1]. We have instituted these initiatives (with links to additional resources).
Pathfinder: Residential Schools (ongoing)
An informational sheet is available to the public. It lists some of the resources (Adult Non-Fiction, Juvenile Books, Videos, etc.) that are specific to the topic of Residential Schools and reconciliation. Visit our online catalogue for items on Residential Schools [2]
Talking Circle 2017: Sharing, healing, reconciling, moving forward, together.
This was a group meeting, open to all, anyone who'd come forward in effort to speak of reconciliation, how we can play a role in bringing it about in our workplaces, home, community, etc. The initiative was to get the dialogue of reconciliation started, discuss collaborative ways to bring it to light, and lifelong learning for all.
Indigenous Book Club Month 2018: Indian Horse [3] by Richard Wagamese
This book was chosen by one of our Library Assistants, in honour of the late Richard Wagamese. In the spirit of healing, this particular book brings about the much needed discussion in its most simplest form...truth. The truth of who Saul was, who he came to be within his healing process, and how he moved forward in an unfortunately difficult lifetime. This selection too, is an effort to keep the dialogue going on reconciliation and how we can continue to embed it within our family, home, and community. Seven people signed up and read the book, but only three were able to physically attend this event (with one email submission for discussion). We would have appreciated more participation; however, the four discussed what reconciliation-in-action has already taken place in their places of work, home, and community. There is hope...reconciliation continues.
The Friends of the Library Book Club (for June 2019)
This is an ongoing book club held at PRL throughout the year and one of our Library Assistants volunteers her time in doing so. This year, in the spirit of reconciliation and in honour of National Indigenous History Month [4], one of our other Library Assistants has requested that an Indigenous author/book be selected for the month of June, and that this Book Club meeting be advertised to the public at large. This Book Club Meeting was held on Tuesday, June 25th @ 7 p.m. - Multipurpose Room.
There were 8 people in attendance with 2 e-mail submissions for the meeting. The list of books discussed at the Read Indigenous Book Club Meeting were:
- The Break by Katherena Vermette
- The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (2 people read this)
- The Ringing Cedars series by Vladimir Megre
- Peace Pipe Dreams: the truth about lies about Indians by Darell Dennis
- All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga
- Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
- Dances With Dependency: Indigenous Success Through Self-Reliance by Calvin Helin
- Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp
- Starlight by Richard Wagamese
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report [5] of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.
Ongoing: We continue to add materials to our collection to foster understanding and reconciliation. We have a large collection of self-help materials to assist people on the journey of healing, and related topics on residential schools.
- Northwest History Collection room: this is a secure room with books on local First Nations and Northwest British Columbia.
- We welcome suggestions about materials to purchase.
- Encourage community partnership in hosting an event at the library.