New Yorker: Fiction Podcast

Below is the land acknowledgement that the library has been working on - there are 3 versions and there is the reasons why the library is writing this  and what it hopes to accomplish. I think it would also be great to think about what we want to do in the coming year (2023).

So thank you in advance for your feedback and let 's try to continue this into 2023.

Our next meeting is July 5th at 1 and we will meet in person in the garden of the library weather permitting. We will be continuing the discussion of the challenge of reconciliation.

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DRAFT MWPL Land Acknowledgment

● We acknowledge that the Montreal West Public Library is located on unceded Indigenous lands.  We respect the past, present, and future in our efforts to foster a lasting relationship between Montreal West  and Indigenous communities. 

● The Montreal West Public Library gratefully acknowledges that the land on which it is established is unceded Indigenous land historically inhabited by First Peoples who depended on and shared its sacred bounty.

● The Montreal West Public Library gratefully acknowledges that the Library is located on unceded Indigenous lands that are recognized as the lands of  the (ka nya kA ha ka) Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters that surround us, and,  we respect the past, present, and future in our efforts to foster a lasting relationship between the library and the Indigenous communities.

This Acknowledgement is an important and necessary step towards building trust and fostering reconciliation with our indigenous neighbours.

Why are we doing this?

● As a library, we should be providing resources to help people learn (and to teach ourselves in the process)

● We feel that this is a good first step towards the process of truth and reconciliation

● We have seen acknowledgments in other institutions, and we realize that Montreal West Public Library does not have an official acknowledgment

● We believe that we could be a first step in helping us understand the abuse that the First Nations, the Metis, and the Inuit peoples face on a regular basis

Calls to Action:

● Create conversations and help our members and residents learn other perspectives and engage in active learning.

● Promote the Calls to Action of the TRC 

● Remove colonialist terms from the library catalogue.

● Tea and TRC – begin with the some reading of the Executive Summary of the TRC and the 94 Calls to Action

● Engage speakers, films, and other resources to allow the community to learn about the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada and the systemic racism that exists today. 

● Work with other local groups that have the same objectives