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Nathan Sentance is a librarian working at the Australian Museum as a First Nations project officer and periodically posts his thoughts on his blog Archival Decolonist.

How did you initially get into the GLAMR industry?  Was it easy to switch between the library and the museum?

It was easy not just because I believe my skills were transferable (which they very much are) but because my personal goals remained the same. I wrote a mission statement for myself in 2014 which I wrote my goals are:

  • To empower communities to manage their heritage, history and cultural information based on the principles of United Nations The Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • To enable First Nations communities and researchers to enrich the cultural value of existing collections by contributing history, context, perspectives and opinions;
  • To facilitate connection and collaboration between community members, other communities, researchers and institutions, local and distant from each other.

I have never had a plan of what role I will have in or what institution I will work in to guide me or anything similar, I have been guided by these ambitions in this vision statement and this has directed me to what I do, which has made alternating between galleries, libraries, archives and museums easier because where I work was not the point, the point for me is to ensure First Nations agency over the history and culture collected, conveyed and preserved in memory institutions and not to ensure First Nations people control the narrative that surrounds them.

When did you first become aware of the “colonist” mentality in institutions such as libraries and museums?

Early in my library days, when working with mission records and an Aunty was looking at records about herself that were inaccurate and thinking this collection is what people use write history and it is inaccurate and is missing Aunt’s voice and many voices like hers.

What makes you so passionate about “decolonising” these institutions?

GLAMR has more power than we assume. People have used the power of archives and museums to proliferate colonial narratives which lead to First Nations people being seen as savages and subhumans which justified our mass displacement, forced assimilation, and the stolen generations and continues today with narratives of us as criminals or drunks which in turn justifies our over incarceration.

What can other GLAMR professionals, especially those who do not come from minority groups, do to assist in “decolonisation”?

Beware of paternalism or white saviour-hood; listen to community desires and needs; elevate First Nations voices within and outside the sector; listen and support your First Nations colleagues and if you don’t have any, ask why you don’t have any; understand positionality of your work and yourself; be prepared and don’t get defensive when in engaging in uncomfortable subjects regarding colonisation (ethics should not be conditional upon feeling good) ;   relinquish power; make yourself unimportant in your antiracism/decolonial work;

Finally, is there any advice you would like to give library students and new professionals?

Not really. Just know that I am rooting for you and hope you all the best. Girra girra (be well).

You can now view the Draft Program for ALIA Information Online 2025 – Transformation & Disruption.

Interested in attending? Register via this the ALIA Information Online Event link.

RSVP Date: 17th March

Cost:

Members $400 | Non-Members $500| Institution  5 attendees $1800 | Institution 10 attendees $3500 | Unlimited $6000

 

One Day ALIA Member Price (includes ALIA personal members and institutional staff members): $150

One Day Non-Member Price: $200

Two Day ALIA Member Price (includes personal members and institutional staff members): $275

Two Day Non-Member Price: $375

 

 

When  is this on?

Tuesday 18th March – 20th March

Location: Online via Zoom 

Time Zoom begins: 9am AEDT

 

Program Summary:

Day 1: Tuesday, 18th March – Indigenous Knowledges (Program highlights Dialogue Session: Libraries and their Intersection with Indigenous Knowledges held on 13th October 2024).

Day 2: Wednesday, 19th March – Greening GLAMR

Day 3: Thursday, 20th March – AI

Download the Draft Program for more info.

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Poster reads draft program for Alia information online is available.

The Truck Cat Simultaneous StoryTime

Now is the time to find yourself a copy of The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel from your local book shop, library or department store.

Save the date for #librarystorytime on May 21st from 12pm – 1pm (AEST).

A man pats a cat on the head. A truck is behind him.

ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group EOI

Are you an ALIA Student or Graduate Member?

Add to your ALIA CPD Scheme hours by joining the ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group.

ALIA are in the process of reviewing the ALIA CPD Scheme to meet the ALIA Skills, Knowledge and ethics Framework.

As a member of the ALIA CPD Scheme focus group you can provide feedback on gaps in library skills in the Library and Information Service Workforce.

The Focus Group will begin in March. You can add the 2-3 hours contributing to the Focus Group as ALIA CPD Scheme hours.

Interested?

Email education@alia.org.au with the subject line ‘Skills Audits Focus Group’ to let the team know your interest in participating.

The front of the Ngutungka Henley library. South Australia's newest library.

RSVP by 12 February to join ALIA SA on their library tour of Ngutungka Henley Library.

When: Thursday, 13 February 2025

Location: 

Ngutungka Henley
378 Seaview Road
Henley Beach, SA 5022

Time: 6pm – 7pm (ACDT)

Cost: ALIA Members & Non – Members: FREE

Stay updated on ALIA SNGG, ALIA Special Interest Group (SIG) & ALIA News by bookmarking our ALIA SNGG Newsletter WordPress page.

Help promote ALIA SNGG by following  us on Facebook, Instagram, X and Linkedin.

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