Anahera Moheru talk on indigenous collections

From left to right: Ingrid Parent (University Librarian), Linc Kesler (First Nations House of Learning), Anahera Moheru (University of Auckland), Elder Larry Grant (Musqueam First Nation), and Sarah Dupont (UBC Library’s Aboriginal Engagement Librarian).

Earlier this week the Library welcomed Māori librarian Anahera Moheru, to give a talk on indigenous people and collections. Nearly 50 people attended the event, part of the Library’s 100th celebrations. Aimed at librarians, information professionals and curators of collections, the talk emphasized the differences in indigenous collections.

As part of her introduction, she spoke in Māori and said that she was a visitor to this land. “We are all visitors in someone else’s land,” she said, recognizing that UBC is located on the ancestral territory of the Musqueam people. She continued her talk by emphasizing how important it is to work with indigenous peoples, and offer collaborations and partnership wherever possible.

If your library, museum or other institution has items about or by indigenous peoples, she recommends connecting with the group first. The first consideration should be looking at who created the item, and where it originated from. As an example, she discussed ethnographers coming into an indigenous community and then writing a book, versus an indigenous community member writing a book from their own perspective. Checking with the group and building a relationship with them is important for the long-term stewardship of these collections.

Anahera emphasized the importance of working with indigenous peoples by offering examples of collaboration and partnership. Only through collaboration can we determine what potential issues there may be with digitizing material and making it available to everyone. Sometimes there may be cultural reasons why items should be preserved but made available with limited access.

As a closing point, Anahera stressed that our first priority is our collections, and indigenous people have a role to play in their collections. “Involve them in the conversation! Just ask!” she said, highlighting again the importance of never forgetting our responsibilities as stewards of information.

For those who missed the talk, a webcast is available through the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre’s webcasts portal. Pictures of the event are available on the Library’s Flickr page.

About Anahera Moheru

Anahera is the Library Manager for Arts, Māori and Pacific at the University of Auckland. She travels and presents at many indigenous fora where she is able, and honoured, to be the National Coordinator for the Mātauranga Māori within NZ Libraries. Anahera is past Tumuaki of Te Rōpū Whakahau, convenor for the Library and Informtion Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) conference 2014 and a member of LIANZA Council.

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