Diversity means Disruption
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26686/arch.10662Keywords:
Indigenous peoples -- Employment, Diversity in the workplace, Libraries -- Social aspects, Museums -- Social aspects, Iwi taketake, Aboriginal Australians, Torres Strait Islanders, Libraries and Aboriginal Australians, Libraries and Torres Strait Islanders, Kanorau, Wiradjuri (Australian people)Abstract
This article discusses how libraries, archives and museums can respond to First Nations (i.e., Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders; first peoples of Australia; Indigenous Australians; First Australians; Sovereign peoples) staff beyond tokenism, taking challenges to ingrained structures of whiteness and unconsidered Eurocentric assumptions. The author offers five things which will improve diversity initiatives in libraries, archives and museums. First, to not let white fragility (discomfort over discussions of racism being perceived as personal attacks) get in the way of change. Second, to treat lived experience as expertise. Third, to support First Nations staff. Fourth, to understand the impacts First Nation peoples work in libraries, archives, and museums on a personal and community level. Finally, to advocate for First Nations causes.
Metadata reused from the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa under a CC BY 4.0 license.
