Learning the truth is an important first step for all Canadians toward healing our community. Libraries have an important role to play in providing resources and awareness around Truth and Reconciliation. It is our duty and commitment to Indigenous peoples and communities.
Calgary Public Library welcomed its first Indigenous Services team member in 2017. This growing team focuses on Indigenous engagement, ensuring Library programs and services are designed around community needs.
Partnership is critical to the Library’s approach to reconciliation. For opportunities to partner and collaborate, or to share ideas and suggestions, please contact the Indigenous Services team by email at indigenousservices@calgarylibrary.ca.
The Calgary Public Library invites applications for the three-month, paid position of Indigenous Artist in Residence for March 2021 - May 2021.
The application deadline is February 5, 2021.
The Library has an open and ongoing call for Indigenous artists, art teams, performers, musicians and craft-makers within Treaty 7 Territory to submit music/performance/workshops/artist talks/film and storytelling for the Calgary Public Library’s social media channels.
The Calgary Public Library wants to support local Indigenous artists and musicians that live within the Treaty 7 Territory, by posting and sharing their work through our social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram or Instagram Stories, and Twitter. This could include the sharing of websites, photos, stories, YouTube, Vimeo links, and recorded workshops or performances.
To submit, send a short 100-200 word description of the proposed work you would like to share, the age/demographic the work is intended for, links to online content, examples of past work and already produced video content.
Submissions can be sent, along with any questions about criteria or medium, to indigenousservices@calgarylibrary.ca or livia.manywounds@calgarylibrary.ca.
Submissions will be reviewed by the Indigenous Services staff from the Calgary Public Library on an ongoing and weekly basis; those submissions selected for posting and the timeline for submitting will be notified.
All content displayed on Library Digital Media will be family-friendly and appropriate for the public. No content will be shared on Library platforms if it has inappropriate language, subject matter, graphic content, or hate speech.
Calgary Public Library invites expressions of interest from the Indigenous community, from people who are experienced artists, performers, knowledge keepers, storytellers, presenters, crafters, and service providers.
What is a land acknowledgement? Children can learn this simple statement, including gestures, to understand its importance.
Watch the Video
Indigenous
Author Kerry Gladue shares his story of moving from a place of trauma and addiction to a life of hope and healing.
Indigenous
Family storytimes are offered in Stoney Nakoda, Kainai Blackfoot, Piikani Blackfoot, and Siksika Blackfoot at Library locations across the city.
Teens
Explore the traits of leadership, learn about inspirational Treaty 7 Indigenous leaders, and create a collaborative art piece.
The Elders’ Guidance Circle is now available as an online experience. Individuals and small groups, including students, can meet virtually with an Elder to explore topics relating to culture, history, and reconciliation.
Virtual meetings with Elders and Knowledge Keepers are available between Monday and Friday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The Elders’ Guidance Circle is supported by Suncor Energy Foundation with Elders’ honoraria provided by the Calgary Foundation.
Request a meeting
Indigenous languages have long been underrepresented in literature — especially in children's books. This year the Library worked with aspiring Treaty 7 writers to start changing that, helping them create children's books in their traditional languages.
Learn about the authors and their books
Visit the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre on Level 4 at Central Library to meet with Elders, share stories under a night sky installation, view traditional items, and learn Treaty 7 languages.
Learn more
Visit Central, Forest Lawn, and Signal Hill libraries to view both traditional and contemporary art installations by Indigenous artists. Supported by Suncor Energy Foundation.
View Indigenous Placemaking
The Calgary Public Library is committed to providing exceptional Library experiences to all residents of Mohkinstsis and surrounding area. For this reason, all residents of Alberta Indigenous communities and Métis settlements can receive their Library card for free, regardless of where they live.
As part of this commitment, the Library has released two limited edition Library cards featuring family photographs of Tsuut’ina artist Glenna Cardinal, who was previously denied a free Library card before they were made freely accessible to Indigenous communities across Alberta.
These cards are available to new and existing members. Ask a staff member at your Library about switching your card to this new design at no cost.
These books will engage and delight all ages.
Learn more about the culture and context behind Indigenous art.
Non-fiction, memoir, poetry, and novels that include the uncompromised honesty of survivors and their stories.
For foodies of all ages, explore these storybooks and cookbooks featuring Indigenous ingredients
The titles on this list can help parents, teachers, and caregivers talk to children about residential schools.
Learn more about Indigenous women with one of these compelling, heartbreaking, and hopeful reads.
Fiction, memoir and graphic novels captures the strength of the protagonists as they challenge the power of colonial ideologies.
From picture books and memoirs to novels and short story collections, these books by Indigenous authors celebrate love for all ages.
Authors and artists from Treaty 7 to across Turtle island show the resilient spirit and imagination of Indigenous peoples.
These graphic novels depict the shared experiences of Indigenous youth across Canada.
A selection of books from acclaimed Indigenous fiction authors in Canada.
Essential titles by Indigenous authors to better understand Canadian history and support residential school survivors.
The authors' explorations of who they are and how they belong in their cultures and societies is punctuated with the vision of the outsider, rebel, resistance, resilience, and redemption on their own terms.
These Indigenous poets tap into a world rarely thought about in the dominant Canadian story. They write about what poetry means for their life experiences, perspectives, and identity as well as the roots of poetry in their culture.
The Library worked with aspiring Treaty 7 writers to create children's books in their traditional languages. These books are now available as part of the Library's permanent collection!
Whether you are personally affected by this crisis or want to become an ally, these resources can be a source of information, reflection, action, resilience, and hope.
Cree, Objibway, Navajo and Choctaw Code Talkers were essential to both world wars, where they used their languages to create unbreakable code.
The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30 is part of the global conversation on all aspects of Indian Residential Schools.
Explore the powerful music of Indigenous musicians who use music and song to reclaim their culture.
Curl up with your kids and enjoy this collection of storybooks from Indigenous authors.
Delicious recipes to try out at home created by Indigenous chefs across Turtle Island.
Books about empowering Indigenous women through writings about feminism, decolonization, reclaiming identity, and sovereignty.
Tune into the love, life, history, and perspectives from the Two Spirit and Indigiqueer communities.
These selections rely on strong oral and written sources, and focus on de-colonizing the historical practice.
