The Indigenous Pop-Up Library Unveiled
By Keiko Honda (Chair, Community Engagement Committee)
The Indigenous Pop-Up Library, as part of the Kerrisdale Community Centre’s Community Engagement Committee (CEC)’s newest initiative, has finally been unveiled and accessible to all visitors throughout the year.
With the blessing and messages from the former Musqueam Chief, Gail Sparrow, who serves as our Guiding Elder, the pop-up library is located in the sunfilled lobby area of the Senior Centre and features excellent Indigenous resources recommended by our Indigenous and non-Indigenous community partners to support teaching and learning. These resources include Indigenous books and articles, original take-home activity sheets, and more. CEC will plan to update the Pop-Up Library semesterly (Summer, Fall/Winter, Spring).
Kicking off and commemorating June, National Indigenous History Month in Canada, the Pop-Up Library is introducing the following seven Indigenous books:
Non-fiction:
- Oceaness by Michael Blackstock (Author)
- Our Story: Aboriginal Voices on Canada’s Past (Contributions by Thomas King, Tantoo Cardinal and, Tomson Highway)
Poetry:
- Native Poetry in Canada: A Contemporary Anthology by Jeannette Armstrong (Editor), Lally Grauer (Editor)
Fiction:
- The Strangers by Katherena Vermette (Author)
- Neekna and Chemai by Jeannette Armstrong (Author), Barbara Marchand (Illustrator): Recommended for ages 9-12
- Son of a Trickster Paperback by Eden Robinson (Author)
Collection:
- Tekahionwake: E. Pauline Johnson’s Writings on Native North America by E. Pauline Johnson (Author), Margery Fee (Editor), Dory Nason (Editor)
It is important to note that the honour system has been in place, so books are not to be borrowed but to stay on the shelf as display copies, while activity sheets are available for the public to take home. Please come check them out and peruse them while you are visiting the Senior Centre. And leave your message on a Sticky Note to “interact” with the Pop-Up library.
CEC invites you to join on June 26 to attend The Kerrisdale-Musqueam Story Circle to learn more about these and other Indigenous learning resources and stories with Gail Sparrow, our Guiding Elder, and a Musqueam artist, Grace Ulu. Pre-registration is required (here).
Let’s spend time together to recognize and embrace the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across Canada!
