CORRINA SPARROW
UBC Library EDI Scholar-in-Residence 2024/2025
Corrina Sparrow is a current PhD candidate with the Institute of Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice (GRSJ) at UBC, whose research investigates contemporary Coast Salish Two Spirit/Indigiqueer (2SIQ) identities, resiliency, and the use of traditional nation-specific, land-based values and knowledge in strengthening 2SIQ queer safety and wellness. Corrina’s ancestors come from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nation, the Qualicum Nation of the Pentlatch People, and the Netherlands. Read Corrina’s full bio.
Q: What have been your biggest professional challenges?
Social work, for me, is about helping and supporting folks to empower them to do the work they already know they need to do for themselves, their families, and within their communities. It’s really about helping and finding ways to be of good service to people… Our job is to be good active listeners, connecting people with resources so they can do the work they want to do. We act as a breakwater between the bureaucratic systems and the people, helping them navigate through barriers created by those systems. The biggest challenge in my work is understanding the different contexts we’re working in and navigating the spaces and systems impacting folks. We need to help them move forward as smoothly as possible toward their own transformations, healing and wellness.
Returning home for the first time almost ten years ago—and working within my own home community—was also a big challenge, as an Indigenous person, born and raised on reserve. I’ve always worked predominantly with other Coast Salish families and urban Indigenous communities throughout my helping journey, but actually being home in Musqueam struck the heart and the spirit in a more visceral way. I remember standing at the edge of the Fraser River on my first day of work in Musqueam, praying to the Land and Water, and committing to be the best helper I could be for our families—to support them and to do everything I can to ensure they have dignity, that they are proud, strong, safe, and happy in their own territories.
Q: What has been the highlight of the last year for you professionally?
Being on leave from my role as Musqueam Social Development Director has allowed me to move more into my studies and focus on Coast Salish 2SIQ empowerment, safety, and community development.
I worked with our local communities and relatives to incorporate the first Coast Salish 2SIQ wellness society, Transforming Embers. We’ve been operating for the past two years, offering land-based learning and education for Coast Salish 2SIQ folks, but also other Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ relatives who come to our territories from other places, to learn about how to be on the Land, how to be good guests, how to be in relationship, and to walk gently on our Coast Salish territories. And that’s been really magical to be part of that community building.
“I think libraries are our best friends when it comes to Indigenous helpers and Indigenous researchers. Librarians are amazing!”
Q: Why did you want to participate in the EDI Scholar-in-Residence program at UBC Library?
I heard about the program through some friends who work at UBC Libraries. I think libraries are our best friends when it comes to Indigenous helpers and Indigenous researchers. Librarians are amazing! I’ve also worked in the past with UBC’s Equity and Inclusion Office, specifically on creating the first Coast Salish Two Spirit Pride Mosaic, which was installed outside xwi7xwa Library this past year. I’ve also worked with that office in the past to put on Coast Salish Two Spirit knowledge and awareness workshops for students and staff. So, when I heard about the EDI Scholar-in-Residence program through some friends, I thought it would be a great opportunity to continue that good relational work.
Q: In your consultation sessions with UBC faculty, staff or students, what topics would you love to discuss or what questions would you love to get?
I’m open to anything. My [public session] is going to be about decolonizing, Land-based education and learning, disrupting colonial spaces, as well as Indigenous practice and theory. How we can create and nurture spaces at the university and within the institution more inclusive, respectful and welcoming of diverse folks, whether they’re Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, neurodiverse and representative of all different abilities? I think it’s really important that we continue to have these talks in order to counter colonial policy and practices that are automatically going to be embedded within the institution itself. It’s up to us to disrupt that every day, to take action and challenge the status quo – and to encourage transformation, strengthened relationality, and decolonize our shared spaces together in culturally meaningful ways.
“I think it’s really important that we continue to have these talks in order to counter colonial policy and practices that are automatically going to be embedded within the institution itself.”
Q: Are there any resources at the library that you’re hoping to access while you’re here?
I do like keeping an eye on special collections. I’d love to see a collection [that is] Two Spirit/ Indigiqueer specific. But I’ll also be looking at UBC spatial histories, and specifically at the Irving K Barber Learning Centre and UBC Farm. I think it’s really interesting to see colonial/institution history, and local Land-based Indigenous histories in juxtaposition – and what this means for our policy and practice today.
Library services at UBC are fantastic—there are so many knowledgeable, like-minded folks there who really want to help people find the resources they need for the work that they’re doing – and not only just find these resources, but also to teach us how to find them ourselves. There’s a lot of skill-based learning and education opportunities that I don’t think that students are aware of [through the library]. It actually cuts our time in half as researchers, to learn how to research properly and how to navigate these systems. Librarians to save the day!
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Scholars-in-Residence program is open to scholars who hold degrees in any discipline. Residency at UBC’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre allows Scholars to participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary public programming with a clear impact on equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more information, visit the program website. This program is made possible with support from the Peña Fund.