UM Libraries staff Shirley Delorme Russell and Justin Fuhr selected books, images, and excerpts to display to Science Library patrons as they enter the library. Books by Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors were selected, and topics include Indigenous research methodology, astronomy, physics, environmental science, ecology, and food sciences.

Titles include Blackfoot Physics by F. David Peat, Science and Sustainability: Learning from Indigenous Wisdom by Joy Hendry, Pollution is Colonialism by Max Liboiron, and tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine (various authors). See the full list of books on display in Primo here. To showcase UM’s undergraduate sciences research, a poster by a recent graduate of the Faculty of Science’s Wawatay program was added to the display.

On the first day of the display, several books were checked out — students still read the occasional physical book!

The Ojibwe sky star map, also known as the ‘Ojibwe giizhig anung masinaaigan‘ is a Native Skywatchers map created by A. Lee, W. Wilson, C. Gawboy (image courtesy of A. Lee, W. Wilson and C. Gawboy)

Justin and Shirley are also collaborating on an Indigenous Science subject guide, which will be incorporated into other guides for the sciences, engineering, agriculture, food science, and environment, earth, and resources.

Shirley, an Indigenous Librarian Intern working with the Jim Peebles Science and Technology Library, was tasked to identify Indigenous-authored science books.

Along the way, Shirley discovered many difficulties that students might encounter when searching; searching science terminology with “Indigenous” was not a guaranteed hit. Often the terms had to be interchanged with First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Aboriginal, and even Indian to get resource hits. Resources most often found when searching “Indian” were from the United States; Australian and New Zealand resources came up when searching “Aboriginal.” It required quite a bit of time and patience to find relevant resources.   

Shirley is a well-educated and experienced Métis and Anisinaabe woman, so finding items in a university library catalogue in 2023 that still said “Indian” was shocking and hurtful to her. For example, when searching the UM Libraries for books such as Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer, the descriptive information includes subjects like “Indian philosophy,” while Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence by Gregory Cajete includes “Indians–Science” and “Ethnoscience.”   

By working with the UM Cataloguing & Metadata Librarian, Shirley was better able to learn and understand why items in our library are described as they are and what path is being taken with descriptive metadata practices to more accurately and respectfully represent Indigenous peoples in institutions like libraries. Her experience with this project taught her more about problem-solving and the importance of Indigenous library work in identifying and correcting the use of inappropriate references in order to move our institutions forward along the path of truth and reconciliation.

UM Libraries is committed to creating pathways to Indigenous achievement and one of the ways is to encourage a more Indigenous graduates to consider pursuing the Library and Information Studies profession. UM Libraries has two Indigenous Librarian Internship positions which provides tuition for pursuing a Master’s degree and a paid part-time position in UM Libraries while doing so.

Learn more about the Indigenous Librarian Internship session on April 17.

A career in library and information studies can involve serving the public, collaborating in teams, innovating with technology, and ensuring access to information for generations to come.

A unique opportunity has been created by UM Libraries for an internship for an Indigenous graduate to work in the Libraries while pursuing a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) through the University of Alberta’s online program.

Join us at the Indigenous librarian internship information session to learn about the opportunity. This session will be available both in person and online via Zoom.

Date: April 17, 2023 (Monday)
Time: 12 -1 p.m.
Venue: Sigrid Johnson Board Room, Iceland Reading Room, 3^rd Floor, Elizabeth Dafoe Library, Fort Garry Campus, University of Manitoba
*Please register to attend the in-person session.

A light lunch will be served for those attending in person.

Learn more about the internship and what a career in library and information studies looks like from the experiences of our guest speakers:

• Heather Bidzinski, Head, Archives and Special Collections, University of Manitoba
• Melissa Raynard, Head, Technical Services, University of Manitoba
• Justin Fuhr, Science Librarian, University of Manitoba
• Monique Woroniak, Customer Services Librarian, Winnipeg Public Library

Contact Lyle Ford, Associate University Librarian, Indigenous Engagement, to request the link for the Zoom session and more information about the internship.

The objective of the internship is to create a pool of qualified Indigenous academic librarians who will add needed unique and cultural perspectives to our collections, spaces, and services to our community.

UM Libraries will provide a part-time paid library position through which the intern will obtain practical knowledge and work experience while completing the University of Alberta MLIS Online Program with tuition paid by the Libraries. 

Apply for the CUPE Indigenous Librarian Intern position (four-year term) before September 14, 2023 (Thursday) at the UM Recruitment Site. The position is designated for an Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) candidate who is looking to pursue a career in librarianship or archives. Preference will be given to applicants with a four-year degree from the University of Manitoba or who are a resident of Manitoba.

At the University of Manitoba, over 50 international student exchange agreements are offered to over 20 destinations through the UM Student Exchange Program. The program allows students to see the world while earning credits toward their degree and paying regular tuition fees.

There are also opportunities to travel and study outside of the formal exchange program. These could be through summer travel study courses offered by the Faculty of Arts, internship/research/teaching opportunities abroad or even through short-term language and culture programs offered by other universities such as the University of Iceland, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem or the Canadian Summer School in Germany, to name a few.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine

We invited Eric Chartier, a student in the Faculty of Arts, to answer a few questions on what could be expected from a summer program. Chartier attended the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies International Summer School in Modern Icelandic Language & Culture in Reykjavik.

Eric Chartier. Credit: Simonetta Positano

FACULTY OF ARTS: HOW LONG WERE YOU GONE AND WHEN?
CHARTIER: I was gone from July 2 to August 2, 2022. The course I took ran for one month from July 4 to July 27.

WHY TRAVEL? WHY ICELAND?
I knew over the course of my undergraduate studies that I wanted to do an exchange somewhere for something. When COVID-19 hit I thought that I had missed my window, but Peter John Buchan (instructor and department head of UM’s Department of Icelandic Language and Literature) encouraged us to apply for this course. Since I was completing my minor in Icelandic, I thought that would be a good way to cap my undergraduate studies. I should also thank the Olson-Jonsson Scholarship fund as their financial support greatly helped me enjoy this opportunity.

WHAT DID YOUR PROGRAM INCLUDE?
It included 80 hours of instruction at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Seventy of those hours were focused on language and 10 were focused on modern Icelandic society and culture. In those 10 hours we received lectures on Icelandic music, art, architecture and current issues, among other subjects. We also had field trips scheduled for a variety of culturally significant locations not just in Reykjavik but also in the surrounding area such as Þingvellir, Reykholt, and the highlands.

WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF YOUR EXPERIENCE?
For me, it was actually the day I arrived. After arriving in Reykjavik, I met with a representative of the Árni Magnússon Institute in order to get set with my accommodations. I got my assigned unit and keys so went to go get set up in my dorm. When I arrived at the dorm however, I couldn´t open my door! After talking with the representative, they had me go to another dorm while they sorted out the key situation. Turns out they had accidentally switched my key with another participant´s. This experience did quickly introduce me to some of the other students and staff in the program so I think it actually helped some of my nerves in settling in socially. It also was NOT indicative of how the program was ran for which I am also thankful!

HOW HAS THE PROGRAM HELPED YOU NOW THAT YOU ARE BACK IN CANADA? WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
The biggest thing this program helped with was getting myself exposed to another culture. While I have been to other countries such as Cuba and Mexico, I had never been abroad for an extended period of time. Being in Iceland for a month made me feel like a resident as opposed to a visitor or a tourist. I feel like I actually got to properly experience Icelandic culture as opposed to merely being exposed to it. This has helped me change how I see the world and has made me a more informed human being.

My time in Iceland was big for my personal growth. I learned a lot of things about myself that I didn´t know of or wasn´t sure of before. I also got to meet a lot of new people, some of whom I´m still actively friends with to this day.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TRAVEL STUDY OR EXCHANGE TO OTHERS?
I would highly recommend this opportunity. Everyone I met was super friendly and helpful. I got to experience Iceland in a way that I never would´ve considered or thought possible before. It´s the kind of thing where you get out what you put in, and the program makes you want to put as much in as you can.

The various student travel study programs available at UM are a great way to broaden horizons, gain practical experience and have life-changing personal experiences.

Those interested in travelling for one or more semesters can visit the UM Student Exchange Program webpage and book a meeting with an exchange coordinator to find out more. The deadline to apply for general Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024 and Summer 2024 exchanges is January 31, 2023.

Those looking for short-term summer opportunities can check with their instructors or contact the Faculty of Arts Language Centre (103 Isbister Building) for guidance. The deadline to apply for the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies International Summer School in Modern Icelandic Language & Culture is February 15 of each year. Other programs will have different deadline dates.

To discover a variety of internship, research and teaching opportunities available to UM undergraduate and graduate students, visit the Faculty of Arts Language Centre.

To find out more about UM travel courses (individual courses taught by UM professors in locations other than Winnipeg), check Aurora, ask your instructor or visit the Faculty of Arts Language Centre.

A career in library and information studies can involve serving the public, collaborating in teams, innovating with technology, and ensuring access to information for generations to come.

A unique opportunity has been created by UM Libraries for two internships for Indigenous graduates to work in the Libraries while pursuing a Master of Information and Library Studies (MILS) through the University of Alberta’s online program.

Join us April 14, 12 to 1 p.m. to learn more about the internships and what a career in library and information studies looks like from the experiences of our guest speakers:

• Heather Bidzinski, Head, Archives and Special Collections, University of Manitoba
• Melissa Raynard, Acting Head, Technical Services, University of Manitoba
• Justin Fuhr, Humanities Librarian, University of Manitoba
• Monique Woroniak, Customer Services Librarian, Winnipeg Public Library

Contact Lyle Ford, Acting Indigenous Strategies Librarian, to obtain the session link or to learn more about the internships.

The Libraries will provide part-time paid library positions through which the interns will obtain practical knowledge and work experience while completing their University of Alberta MILS Online Program with tuition paid by the Libraries. 

The objective of the internships is to create a pool of qualified Indigenous academic librarians who will add needed unique and cultural perspectives to our collections, spaces, and services to our community.

This summer, the Libraries will post the two CUPE Indigenous Librarian Intern positions, for four-year terms.  These positions are designated for Indigenous (First Nation, Metis and/or Inuit) candidates who are looking to pursue a career in librarianship. Preference will be given to applicants with a four-year degree from the University of Manitoba or who are a resident of Manitoba.

Tell us about your background, past degrees and how you got to be where you are in your education.
I’m from Kenora, Ontario. After high school I went to the University of Waterloo and completed my B.A. in History with honours. During my B.A., I became increasingly interested in museums and decided to go to Fleming College to complete the Museum Management and Curatorship program. After I received my Ontario College Graduate Certificate I worked at the Halton Region Museum (now Halton Heritage) and volunteered at the Oakville Museum. Then, I moved to the West Parry Sound District Museum. It was while I was in Parry Sound working with members of the public researching their family history that I knew I wanted to switch to archives. But, I recognized that I would need to pursue a Masters degree. 

Why did you choose Archival Studies? Why UofM? And, where do you hope your MA in History (Archival Studies) will lead you?
I chose Archival Studies after a personal experience assisting a daughter find her late father’s photograph album that had been donated to the museum. It was a powerful moment that cemented my decision to apply to archival studies programs in Canada.

I chose the University of Manitoba for a number of reasons. U of M is close to home, tuition is more affordable in comparison to other Canadian programs, the student to professor ratio is exceptional, I was fortunate to be offered a Manitoba Graduate Scholarship, and our professors Tom Nesmith (now retired) and Greg Bak are well known in the archival community. 

I hope that my degree will keep me in the Heritage and Culture field. Whether it is in a large archives or a small community museum, I have always enjoyed the challenge of connecting people to the past.

What can you tell us about your internship this summer?
My internship this summer took me to Yellowknife, North West Territories. I was part of a project at the NWT Archives to describe 5000 digitized photographs from the Native Press newspaper. The Native Press was an Indigenous newspaper which covered stories in the western NWT from 1971-1993. For my phase of the project we described photographs from 1971-1977. The NWT Archives partnered with the Tłı̨chǫ Government on this project and I worked from April to June with a Tłı̨chǫ contractor to describe the images.

Additionally, we conducted two identification workshops in Behchokǫ̀. Elders were invited to attend the workshop and identify people and places in the images. The workshops were about sharing images back with the community and improving the descriptions. The NWT Archives was invited to attend the Tłı̨chǫ 15th Annual Gathering in Gamèti. We brought 50 large scale photographs, two photo albums with over 300 photographs, and the 5000 digitized images to be displayed on a loop. The trip to Gamèti offered the chance to share photos with as many people from the four communities as possible.

My final task in August was to write the fonds description for the Native Communications Society (the parent organization of the Native Press from 1975-1993). I had the chance to interview former staff from the Native Press which helped me understand better the daily operations and administrative structure of the Native Press in addition to personal stories that brought the records to life. 

What’s the most exciting or unique thing that happened to you during the internship?
There were many unique experiences that I had during my trip to Yellowknife. Eating Easter dinner on a house boat off of Jolliffe Island in Yellowknife, seeing the arrival of the paddlers on the Trails of Ancestors annual canoe journey at 2:00 am in Gamèti, walking across Frame Lake in -20 C weather in May and sitting above Cameron Falls in July. 

How does the internship add value or benefit your studies and research?
The internship component of the M.A. History (Archival Studies) allows students to put into practice the theory they have learned. Additionally I will base part of the third chapter of my  thesis on my internship experience.

I am currently working on my last chapter of my thesis. It is on archives in the Canadian territories – on the challenges archives face in the north and how they have addressed them. I am also looking at the value and meaning of archives and why they are important for the north. I am highlighting how projects such as the NWT Archives Native Press digitization project are meaningful. 

What’s next for you?
I am currently working part-time as a student at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. I plan on defending my thesis sometime in early 2020 and graduating in the summer of 2020. After I finish my M.A., I hope to continue to work in Winnipeg. There are some amazing archives and culture and heritage organizations in the city.

What advice would you give to those considering this M.A. program?
My advice to prospective students is simply to apply. Our program has had students with an array of educational backgrounds. The class sizes are small. The first year can be tough but, you come out with a strong understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the profession. The internship will provide you with practical experience and often leads to part-time work and helps build a network with other professional archivists. Our students have interned in Winnipeg at places such as the NCTR, the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, the Manitoba Archives, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights among many other great places in the city. Students have also travelled nationally and internationally for their internships and had amazing experiences. The thesis component allows students to explore a topic of their interest in-depth and contribute to archival literature. Students from the program have gone on to publish in journals such as Archivaria. Students can also join the U of M Association of Canadian Archivists Student Chapter and the History Graduate Student Association which provide opportunities to network with other students and professionals in the field. 

To close, my experience has and continues to be extremely rewarding, I’ve had so many opportunities that would have been impossible outside this program. I’ve enjoyed my time working with fantastic professors and my fellow students. I’ve had phenomenal internship experiences at the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the NWT Archives. During my time with the History Graduate Student Association I was lucky to volunteer with many exceptional students and professors who helped make the Fort Garry Lectures event a success each year. Thank you again for the opportunity to be featured.

Interested in pursuing a graduate degree in History (Archival Studies)? Attend the History M.A. Information Session on Friday, October 11, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in Room 111 St. John’s College to hear about all of the available History M.A. programs.  No registration required. 

“I’ve always been fascinated by the medicinal properties of plants. I learned about biotechnology in school and decided I should pursue it as my career,” said Lairikyengbam, who will spend the summer at the U of M working on isolating bioactive molecules from plant extracts that have been sent from India.

The project, under Dr. John Sorensen, associate professor, chemistry, has been made possible by the Mitacs Globalink Internship program. The not-for-profit organization sends students from several countries around the world to Canadian universities supporting industrial and social innovation.

Lairikyengbam, who is studying in the M.Sc Biotechnology (Integrated) program at VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology) University in India, was thrilled to be selected to travel to Canada for 12 weeks.

“The work Dr. Sorensen is doing is the kind of work which I want to do in the future, so it’s the perfect project,” said Lairikyengbam. “It will be a great opportunity for me to use what I’ve learned in my previous training and my years at VIT, and implement my knowledge.”

Dr. John Sorensen and Professor Tuhinadri Sen of Jadavpur University.

The research project – titled “Identification of bioactive natural products from plants used in Indian ethnopharmacology” – came as a result of a sabbatical visit last winter to India, where Sorensen spent four months at Jadavpur University in Kolkata. He worked with a group in the School of Natural Products Chemistry in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology that was conducting an evidence-based validation of ethnopharmacological preparations used by traditional healers.

“What that means is that this group takes extracts from plants that local healers have been using and carries out assays to determine if there is any biological activity – antibacterial, antifungal, or anything else – actually present in the plants,” Sorensen explained. “However, they would like to have these plant extracts separated into their constituent molecules. That’s where I come in, since my research group has done some of this kind of work in the past.”

The summer project will focus on the extract of a plant which is widely used for treatment of bacterial infections. Once Lairikyengbam has isolated bioactive molecules from the plant extracts, the purified molecules will then be sent back to Jadavpur so researchers there can determine which molecules are responsible for bioactivity.

“Traditional healers in India and around the world have been using plants, plant extracts, or other even more exotic things to treat all sorts of conditions. But the missing link is that there is very little scientific, evidence-based validation that what they’re doing is actually working. This project allows us to start working on that,” Sorensen explained.

Lairikyengbam was the best choice for the intern on the project – among others who applied from countries including Brazil, Mexico, and Vietnam – because her background fit so well, Sorensen said.

“She has experience working with plant extracts already in India, her academic background is excellent for this project, and her English is outstanding.”

The benefits go both ways, he added.

“Any time you have somebody come from another part of the world, it helps broaden the experience of the people working in the lab here as well.”

“Because we’re working with traditional Indian remedies, it doesn’t hurt that she can tell us a bit about some of the traditions in that part of the world, and also communicate with my colleagues in Jadavpur.”

A huge draw, of course, is that the internship is fully funded by Mitacs, including all expenses for accommodations and travel.

“It’s great that we get the opportunity to bring someone to Canada and offer them some training in a way they may not get the chance to do where they are. And Mitacs did the pre-selection of the interns, so we know we are getting quality candidates to choose from,” Sorensen said. “And when the student comes and participates in this program, Mitacs is also willing to provide funding towards their Ph.D. program if they decide to return to Canada. That’s a great incentive.”

Lairikyengbam also trusts that her background and interests will indeed contribute to the project’s success.

“I hope I can bring a new perspective to the research there,” she said. “After coming back I want to continue with my work. There is a lot of biodiversity in the northeastern part of India, where I’m from, so there are so many plants which have various medicinal properties. I think this will help me study those plants and maybe help in finding out some molecules which can be used to treat disease.”

While Lairikyengbam – who has never been outside of India – didn’t know much about Winnipeg before applying for the internship, she is looking forward to spending the summer here.

“I’m going to be able to work under a reputed professor and along with other graduate students and research scholars, so it’s going to help me learn a lot not only on my subject but also about the people there in Canada, in Winnipeg, and the culture over there.”

As for Sorensen, he believes this project and others like it can have a huge impact on the future of medicinal treatments around the world.

“There’s a very large number of pharmaceutical drugs on the market that are basically natural products produced by some plant, or some fungus, or maybe a bacteria. So there’s pretty good incentive to look at natural products as potential sources of new drugs, but also to understand how they are assembled by the organism that produces them. If we understand that, we can do things like make better versions of some of the new molecules we find out of these Indian plants,” he explained.

“Natural products are still our best sources of new drugs. There are likely still very effective cures for exotic diseases and mundane things waiting to be discovered out there.”