International Indigenous Librarians' Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, 1-4 November 1999

Citation

(1999), "International Indigenous Librarians' Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, 1-4 November 1999", Asian Libraries, Vol. 8 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1999.17308aab.002

International Indigenous Librarians' Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, 1-4 November 1999

International Indigenous Librarians' Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, 1-4 November 1999

There are values and concepts that knit together the indigenous or first nation peoples of the world. These aspects help determine language, behaviour, customs, and practice within indigenous cultures. The aim of this Forum is to encourage the inclusion of these important aspects in the decision-making consciousness of librarians across the globe, so that indigenous people and information can be appropriately valued.

The concept of the Mauri or the life principle of all things animate and inanimate, which is centrally important to the Maori of Aotearoa-New Zealand, will be a key feature of this Forum. The organisers will take much care to design and refine a process that not only encourages but also celebrates indigenous traditional practices. The life principle of the Forum will be represented in a Mauristone, the designs of which are featured in the publicity material for the Forum.

In 1997 a delegation of Maori and Aboriginal librarians travelled to San Francisco to participate in an indigenous librarians' panel at the American Library Association Annual Conference. The Maori delegates were given a mandate to organise an inaugural forum of indigenous librarians in Auckland in 1999.

The Forum is an opportunity for indigenous librarians and information workers from all parts of the world to come together and discuss the information needs and aspirations of their people. Foremost among these concerns are likely to be issues of intellectual and cultural property rights, and the empowerment of indigenous peoples through access to information.

The outcomes of the Forum will include: the strengthening of an international network of indigenous library and information professionals; a position statement on information issues as they relate to indigenous peoples worldwide; agreement on future directions for international indigenous librarianship; Forum publications; professional development of individual participants and cultural affirmation.

The Forum is aimed at indigenous people who either work or have an interest in libraries and information services and who can effectively contribute to the expected outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, plus American Indian groups' have already been contacted. Forum organisers would also like to invite information professionals from other indigenous groups from around the globe. For the purposes of the Forum, "indigenous" is defined as those who have become minority peoples in their places of cultural origin.

For more information contact Chris Szekely, P.O. Box 68 790 Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: chriz@voyager.co.nz