Librarian and archivist

Gabrielle Lamontagne

Edmonton, AB ********@********.** 780-***-****

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

●Completed Masters Library Information Studies and BA Native Studies/Political Science

●3+ years experience working in an academic library

●Specialized working with Indigenous archives (eg censuses) and rare collections (eg textiles)

●6+ years experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research relating to Indigenous land and hunting claims; producing professional reports, data sets, maps, bibliographies, etc.

●Knowledge of archival and library search databases, classification systems, and finding aids

●Adept at building and maintaining professional relationships with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and artists; sensitive to cultural protocols, values, and history

●Exceptional creative problem solving; analytical approach to visionary concepts

EDUCATION

Masters Library Information Studies 2018

University of Alberta, Edmonton AB

Recipient of UAL Indigenous Graduate Award

Bachelor of Arts Native Studies and Political Science 2011

University of Alberta, Edmonton AB

Edmonton, AB

2012- 2018

RELEVANT WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE

Co-ordinator of Collaborative Projects and Indigenization

BC Campus, Simon Fraser University

Vancouver, BC

August 2020–2023

●Acted as primary liaison between BC First Nations communities and post-secondary institutions supporting the unique educational demands of Indigenous students. Key initiatives included securing designated indoor spaces on campus for ceremonial smudging with sage

●Led a province-wide policy review and conducted a comparative evaluation of Indigenous policies across colleges and universities. This research informed critical revisions to institutional policies. This research informed revisions to institutional policies, including the restructuring of payment protocols for Knowledge Keepers and Elders to be paid day-of

●Designed and facilitated a highly successful professional learning series for post-secondary staff across British Columbia, focusing on integrating Indigenous arts, culture, and knowledge into curricula. Notable innovations included applying the four directions of the Medicine Wheel as a guiding framework for student projects

Indigenous Initiatives Librarian

University of Alberta Libraries; Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences; Weir Law; and Coutts Education Library

Edmonton, AB May 2017–June 2020

●Engaged with students, professors, and members of the public daily to support their unique accessibility and information needs; such as reference, bibliographic, and borrower services

●Provided culturally responsive, embedded librarian services at ‘First Peoples House’ for Indigenous students; focused on reducing barriers caused by anxiety and building students confidence in their academic research

●Curated socially-engaged arts exhibits for public display, this included spotlighting local artists from non-academic backgrounds, showcasing rare historic books collections, reciting multilingual poetry, and displayed reclaimed artifacts from Indian Residential Schools

●Served as Teaching Assistant for NS 390: Research Methods in Native Studies; created weekly lesson plans, led classroom seminars, and evaluated students year-end projects

●Illustrated a multilingual online children’s book titled “Le dernier gros poisson” in collaboration with a Lac Ste. Anne Métis Elder and the Campus Saint-Jean; goal of revitalizing the endangered Michif language

Researcher and Project Lead

Métis Archival Project, University of Alberta

Edmonton, AB

December 2013– October 2019

●Collaborated with co-workers to produce comprehensive legal reports for Métis communities pursuing land, hunting, and fishing rights litigation in provincial and federal courts

●Analyzed different documents daily, such as account books, censuses, and government correspondences, to pull out relevant numerical and anecdotal data for current projects

●Trained new staff in applied archival research methodologies to meet professional standards; supervised

●Developed a three-year work plan for successful SSHRC research grant worth $150,000

●Located historical data from archival repositories (eg. Library and Archives Canada) such as Métis Scrip records, Manitoba Affidavits, and Hudson Bay Company post journals utilized in legal reports and genealogy

Researcher

Government of Alberta, Historic Resources Branch (contract)

Edmonton, AB

Nov 2015– March 2016

●Led inquiry for missing children and unmarked graves associated with Indian Residential Schools in Alberta; goal to create a secured database of burial sites for community members

●Consulted daily with organizations such as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Provincial Archives of Alberta, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton to track our collective progress and find potentially unknown incriminating records

●Reviewed cross-jurisdictional policies on Indian Residential School cemeteries and researched archival and contemporary sources to create an index of lost graves in Alberta

●Adhered to strict confidentiality guidelines and protocol outlined in Government of Alberta policy in relation to Aboriginal Consultation, IT, and Sensitive Information

RELEVANT COURSE EXPERIENCE

University of Alberta and SNAP Print Gallery

●ART 134: Art Fundamentals; ART H 101, 102: History of Art, Design & Visual Culture; DES 135: Design Fundamentals; DES 538: Industrial Ecology Design

●NS 110: Historical Perspectives in Native Studies; NS 290, 390, 490: Research Methods in Native Studies; NS 240, 340: Aboriginal Legal Issues; NS 345: Management Issues; NS 403: Archival Research Methods; NS 404: Aboriginal Social Survey & Methods

●LIS 502: Organization of Information; LIS 505: Introduction to Research; LIS 593: Archives Administration; LIS 598: Information Policy; LIS 598: Indigenous Contexts for Library Information Studies; LIS 612: Arts-Based Research in Education

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

●Discovering Communities, Discovering Collections (2019), Birmingham, UK: Attended sessions on the digital shift for community archives and minority groups.

●Alberta Library Conference (2019), Jasper, AB: Presented on Indigenous pedagogy in library sciences based LIS 598: *Indigenous Contexts for Library and Information Studies.*

●Making Meaning Symposium (2018), Edmonton, AB: Assisted Elders during opening prayers and speeches for this reconciliation-focused event.

●Centre for Global Citizenship and Research Conference (2017), Edmonton, AB: Spoke on the panel “Decolonizing the Academy: One Step at a Time.”

●International Association for the Study of the Commons (2015), Edmonton, AB: Represented the Métis Archival Project at Fort Edmonton Park. .

VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

●Homeless Connect (2019): Worked at a U of A library booth to provide homeless patrons access to free books.

●Michif Cultural Connections (2018): Took inventory of archival, library, and museum items for an online database of Métis historical materials.

●TAWOW Welcoming Event (2018): Represented the University of Alberta Libraries during orientation for Indigenous students.

●CJSR Radio (2017–Present): Produced and reported Indigenous-focused content for *Shout! For Libraries*.

●Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton (2017): Conducted blanket exercises and created bibliographies on Aboriginal peoples in Alberta. .

COMMITTEES AND AFFILIATIONS

●Images of Research Committee (2019–2020): Communications and event planning lead for a U of A graduate student arts competition.

●Edmonton Law Library Association (2018): Served as treasurer and contributed to organizing the HeadStart networking conference for law students.

●Indigenous Initiatives Working Group (2018): Member supporting decolonization strategies for U of A Libraries’ services, collections, and spaces.

●Métis Nation of Alberta (2016–Present): Card-holding member, actively engaging with Métis community initiatives.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

●Library Management Systems: SirsiDynix, Workflows, Blacklight

●Database Organization: FileMakerPro, Reunion

●Creative Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Wacom Tablet

●Research Tools: Archival databases (NAC, HBC, PAA), Library databases (OCLC Worldcat, LAC), SurveyMonkey

●Collaboration Platforms: SharePoint, Google Teams, MS Teams, Moodle, Blackboard

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

●Indigenous Graduate Award ($15,000), 2018 & 2019

●MLIS Indigenous Internship (Tuition Coverage), 2018

●Indspire: Building Brighter Futures Bursary ($1,000–$3,000), 2013–2018

●Rupertsland Institute Funding ($10,000), 2014–2015

●Teamsters Canada Rail National Bursary ($500), 2009 & 2010

RELEVANT COURSE EXPERIENCE

●ART 134: Art Fundamentals; ART H 101, 102: History of Art, Design & Visual Culture;

●NS 110: Historical Perspectives in Native Studies; NS 290, 390, 490: Research Methods in Native Studies; NS 340: Aboriginal Legal Issues; NS 403: Archival Research Methods; NS 404: Aboriginal Social Survey & Methods

●LIS 502: Organization of Information; LIS 505: Introduction to Research; LIS 593: Archives Administration; LIS 598: Information Policy; LIS 598: Indigenous Contexts for Library Information Studies; LIS 612: Arts-Based Research

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