About the Course:

Come learn alongside your library peers about Idaho’s federally recognized tribal nations. Past, present, and future perspectives will be explored. Learn how public and school libraries can partner with, better serve, curate accurate materials, and celebrate Indigenous people and culture. The course was created in partnership with Mandi Harris, Cherokee Nation citizen, former Coeur d’Alene children’s librarian, current doctoral student at the University of Washington, and recipient of the distinguished Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship “Catalysts for Change.” This free course is four weeks in length and will utilize a blend of independent learning/reading via the ICfL’s Niche Academy, paired with four online, live meetings for discussions and local presenters. The live webinars will be co-facilitated by Kristina Taylor and Mandi Harris.

Course Objectives:
  • To increase understanding by Idaho library staff of the world’s Indigenous cultures, both historic and current, with an emphasis on the five federally recognized tribes located in present-day Idaho.
  • To foster and increase relationships and partnerships between Idaho libraries and Idaho tribes and Indigenous peoples.
  • To create Idaho library services, materials, and programs that are high-quality, relevant, and accurate regarding Native peoples, cultures, and histories.
  • To improve library communication, promotion, membership, and outreach efforts with members of Idaho’s tribes and other organizations that serve native peoples.
Registration Details:
  • Participants are encouraged to commit to attending all four live webinars, to be held weekly through February – final schedule is currently pending.
  • Live presenters during webinars will be recorded. Open discussion amongst participants after the presentations during the webinars, will NOT be recorded.
  • This second round of the course is limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to Idaho library staff currently working in an Idaho public or school library. (NOTE: This is the last time this course will be offered this fiscal year, through June 2023.)
  • Participants who complete the course will receive 10 new hardcover books for their library collection written and/illustrated by Indigenous authors/artists. Up to 2 library staff from the same library/branch may register for the course. If more than one staff member from the same library completes the course, the library will only receive 1 set of these books. Books will be for a range of ages – children through young adult.
  • The course should take approximately 3 hours of your time per week, for 4 weeks. The 3 modules in Niche Academy can be completed in about 2 hours (though you could spend much more time exploring linked resources) and the webinars are 1 hour each week., with a follow-up webinar a few weeks after the course ends.
  • Registration opens on Thursday, January 5.
  • Register here: https://form.jotform.com/icfl/Indigenous-Idaho-Course-2023 

Questions? Contact Kristina Taylor, ICfL Youth Services Project Coordinator.