Thanks Loriene and to everyone else who responded. I appreciate knowing that there do not appear to be the same sensitivities as to how native persons in the United States are referred to as a group (i.e., Indians vs. First Nations or Native Americans or etc.). Elsa Kramer sent a link to an informative short essay that addresses this issue too. My opposition to the use of the term "Indian" to refer to First Nations peoples is multifaceted, and this is not the forum for me to explain further (over coffee? At ALISE?). Despite being a "nonresident alien" from the planet Canada who may be here in the U.S. for some time, I cannot, with all due respect, accept this still as an established way of referring to First Nations peoples either here or north of the 49th parallel. Far from being "guilt," I consider my intransigence, if it can be called that, a form of acknowledgement and respect to those whom lived in North America before it was "discovered" (yes, a little learning IS!
a dangerous thing!). Regardless of the tone of my initial post, I have to acknowledge wholeheartedly the good work itself that SLIS San Jose will be doing through Circle of Learning, and I wish nothing but success to the scholarship program and to the students whom will benefit from it. It is innovative programs such as this that open doors to many whom may not have the opportunity, for a variety of reasons, to explore the rewarding professional positions found in libraries and information centres.
FL
~~
Frank Lambert, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Science
Kent State University
P.O. Box 5190
314W University Library
Kent, OH 44242
330-672-0015-voice
330-672-7965-fax
[log in to unmask]
"A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
-Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism - 1711)
-----Original Message-----
From: Open Lib/Info Sci Education Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Loriene Roy
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 8:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: San Jose SLIS to Award Scholarships to American Indians and Alaska Natives
Hello, Frank,
SJSU has worked with a group of advisors in developing this IMLS grant
proposal. As one of the advisors, I recall that we had extended
communication about respectful terminology.
Definitions for indigenous peoples still are contested ground and my
general rule of thumb is to include names that Native peoples prefer. In
working with many Native communities over the years I have come to learn
that American Indian or Indian are still used phrases, much so than Native
American.
Loriene Roy,
Anishinabe; Enrolled: White Earth Reservation; Member: Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe
On Wed, 16 Jun 2010, Lambert, Frank wrote:
>
> It is astonishing that any institution of higher learning would refer to North America’s native peoples as “Indians.” It’s as though
> SLIS was the first graduate school off of the ships navigated by the first western European explorers 5-600 years ago and believing
> that it had actually landed on the Indian subcontinent. Amazing! Well, if it is okay for Library of Congress to continue to
> perpetuate this term of ignorance in its list of subject headings, I guess it is perfectly fine to continue using it in other
> contexts. Or is it?
>
>
>
> FL
>
>
>
> ~~
>
> Frank Lambert, Ph.D.
>
> Assistant Professor
>
> School of Library and Information Science
>
> Kent State University
>
> P.O. Box 5190
>
> 314W University Library
>
> Kent, OH 44242
>
> 330-672-0015-voice
>
> 330-672-7965-fax
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> "A little learning is a dangerous thing;
>
> Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
>
> -Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism - 1711)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Open Lib/Info Sci Education Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcia Laughrey
> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 12:02 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: San Jose SLIS to Award Scholarships to American Indians and Alaska Natives
>
>
>
> The San Jose School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is partnering with the American Indian Library Association (AILA) to
> launch Circle of Learning — an initiative designed to recruit and support American Indians and Alaska Natives who are interested in
> earning a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree.
>
>
>
> The scholarship program is designed for Native students who want to earn a fully online ALA-accredited MLIS degree. Scholarship
> recipients will receive financial assistance and other support, including mentoring, career advisement, field experiences, involvement
> in professional conferences and workshops, and interaction with Native leaders in the profession.
>
>
>
> Because all courses are delivered fully online, students will be able to live anywhere while earning their MLIS degree. Circle of
> Learning’s unique blended approach of online curriculum delivery and face-to-face social and professional interactions will help ensure
> that scholarship recipients receive personalized support and develop a professional network that will benefit them in the years ahead.
>
>
>
> The Circle of Learning scholarship program is made possible because of a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
> Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. IMLS announced the award on June 15,
> 2010. View their announcement here: http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/061510.shtm
>
>
>
> The Circle of Learning advisory committee is finalizing application criteria. Details regarding eligibility for scholarships and
> application materials will be available on the project website by August 3, 2010. Students will need to be admitted to the School’s
> MLIS program in order to receive scholarship funding, and the individuals selected to receive scholarships will be eligible to start
> receiving tuition reimbursement for courses taken during the Spring 2011 semester.
>
>
>
> For more information regarding the Circle of Learning project, including application information and deadlines, please visit the
> project’s website at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/circleoflearning/.
>
>
>
> For more information about SLIS and how to apply to the School’s fully online MLIS program, visit
> http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/audience/prospective.htm.
>
>
>
> To learn more about the American Indian Library Association and its initiatives to improve library and information services for
> American Indians, visit http://www.ailanet.org/.
>
>
>
> For information regarding this announcement, please contact Lisa Valdez at [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> Marcia Laughrey
>
> Receptionist
>
> School of Library and Information Science
>
> San Jose State University
>
> One Washington Square
>
> San Jose, CA 95192-0029
>
> Ph: 408-924-2490
>
> Fax: 408-924-2476
>
>
>
>
>
--
+++++*********************************************************************+++++
Professor
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
1616 Guadalupe St., Suite #5.202
Austin, TX 78701-1213
Phone: (512) 471-3959; Fax: (512) 471-8285
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Faculty website: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~loriene
See my new blog, "From All Directions," at http://aie.greenwood.com/blog
Project Director, "If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything", a national reading
club for Native children: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~ifican
Trustee, LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund. Find out more at merrittfund.org