Royal Society of Canada - The Working Group on Archiving Research

In late September 2020, the Royal Society of Canada formed a working group that is focused on archiving research related to COVID-19.  This group will release a policy brief in late 2020. On October 6, 2020, the Globe and Mail published an initial OpEd that outlines the concerns of historians and archivists with regard to collecting, managing, preserving and accessing records related to COVID-19. Their work will consider federal funding programs and identified limitations to preserving records created and collected to provide insight into this pandemic building on expertise from the 1918-1919 flu pandemic, SARS and H1N1 among many other health crises Canadians have faced.

To that end, the Steering Committee on Canada's Archives is seeking your input with regard to COVID-19 records and projects.  Information collected will be used to inform the policy brief which will be disseminated widely to decision makers in Canada.

For more information about the Working Group, see here<https://rsc-src.ca/en/working-group-archiving-research>.

For a link to the first OpEd published by members of the Working Group, see here<https://rsc-src.ca/en/voices/will-covid-19-become-21st-century%E2%80%99s-forgotten-pandemic>.

To complete the short survey, see here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSC-SRC>.

The survey will be open until November 2, 2020.

 

Thank you,

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Chair, SCCA

 

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Société royale du Canada - Le groupe de travail sur la recherche en matière d'archivage

Vers la fin septembre 2020, la Société royale du Canada a formé un groupe de travail qui se concentre sur la recherche en matière d'archivage liée à la COVID-19. Ce groupe publiera une note de breffage à la fin de l'année 2020. Le 6 octobre 2020, le Globe and Mail a publié un premier article d'opinion qui présente les préoccupations des historiens et des archivistes en ce qui concerne la collecte, la gestion, la préservation et l'accès aux documents liés à la COVID-19. Leurs travaux porteront sur les programmes de financement fédéraux et sur les limites de la préservation des documents créés et recueillis afin de donner un aperçu de cette pandémie en s'appuyant sur l'expertise acquise lors de la pandémie de grippe de 1918-1919, du SRAS et du H1N1, parmi les nombreuses autres crises sanitaires auxquelles les Canadiens ont été confrontés.

À cette fin, le Comité directeur sur les archives canadiennes sollicite votre contribution en ce qui concerne les dossiers et les projets relatifs à la COVID-19.  Les informations recueillies seront utilisées pour alimenter la note de breffage qui sera largement diffusée auprès des décideurs au Canada.

Pour plus d'informations sur le groupe de travail, voir ici<https://rsc-src.ca/fr/le-groupe-de-travail-sur-la-recherche-en-matiere-darchivage>.

Pour un lien vers le premier article d'opinion publié par les membres du groupe de travail, voir ici<https://rsc-src.ca/fr/node/4848> (disponible en anglais seulement).

Pour remplir le court sondage, voir ici<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSC-SRC>.

Le sondage sera disponible jusqu'au 2 novembre 2020.

Merci,

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Présidente du CDAC

The ACA Communications Committee is pleased to announce the latest blog has been published and is available online here:  https://www.archivists.ca/Blog/9305323, written by Claire Williams and Jasmine Charette. Their post discusses the contribution of social media in academic and professional conferences, and on the particular activities of the different social media platforms during the ACA 2020 conference.

François Dansereau

ACA In the Field Editor

Archiviste principal / Senior Archivist

Archives des jésuites au Canada / The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada 25, rue Jarry ouest Montréal (Québec) Canada H2P 1S6 http://archivesjesuites.ca<http://archivesjesuites.ca/>

Je reconnais que cet endroit où je vis et je travaille est situé en territoire autochtone, lequel n'a jamais été cédé. Je reconnais la nation Kanien'kehá: ka comme gardienne de ces terres et de ces eaux. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations, et aujourd'hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d'autres peuples, y résident. Je suis reconnaissant de pouvoir travailler dans cette communauté, sur ce territoire.

I acknowledge with respect that the place where I live and work is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien'kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of these lands and waters. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. I am grateful to work in this community, on this territory.

A dynamic and responsive professional association changes everything.

Join our community of volunteers to help the ACA deliver on its commitments to build a professional community through creative, comprehensive, and engaging programs and services.

The ACA is looking for a Virtual Host who will build a team of 4-6 volunteers to support the delivery of the 2021 annual conference. This is a key position that requires a volunteer who is comfortable with videoconferencing and other digital platforms. The 2020 team created capacity and best practices; the new chair will work closely with ACA staff and board to build on this good work to deliver a successful conference experience for our 2021 participants.

We are also looking for volunteers to serve on the following ACA standing committees:

Communications is looking for volunteers to assist with the ACA’s social media, blog, website, and newsletter. This is a great opportunity for new and seasoned professionals with strong written communications skills to work with the ACA on a variety of services and initiatives.

Education is looking for volunteers with a keen interest in continuing education for the archives and recordkeeping profession. The committee is in the process of developing a professional development strategy that will include the roll out of online programming to serve professionals at all stages of their careers. This is a great opportunity for mid-career professionals who have a good understanding of the changing profession and/or an interest in online course development and delivery.

Governance is embarking on a major project to review and refresh all ACA policies to align with the new association bylaw (passed in 2020). This is a good opportunity for volunteers with non-profit management experience and/or an interest in equity, governance, and ethics.

Membership is looking for volunteers to help with three main projects: (1) a review and refresh of member benefits; (2) the planned expansion of the mentorship program; and (3) strengthening the student chapter program. This is a perfect committee for those who are interested in working with new members and/or student members.

The ACA believes that a professional and intellectual community is enriched and enhanced by diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class and religion. We are especially committed to increasing committee participation by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) professionals. We encourage applications from ACA members at any stage of their careers and from all backgrounds.

ACA volunteers must be members in good standing and typically commit to a 2-year term. All volunteers agree to abide by the ACA Volunteer Code of Conduct. Volunteers are supported from start to finish by the ACA Board of Directors and Staff.

To apply for any of these positions, please submit your expression of interest by filling out our online form here: https://archivists_ca.formstack.com/forms/aca_volunteer_form

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask either myself or Jo McCutcheon by email to executive.director at archivists.ca.

Rebecka Sheffield

Vice-President, ACA 2018-2021

Home improvement: Building archives through change

The keepers of memory have many homes. Whether your role is as an archivist, community organizer, records manager, researcher, storykeeper, or data curator, we live in many layered places at once. There are the institutional homes where we work as stewards and preservers, where we teach and learn, and where we provide services and consult and collaborate with our communities. We have professional homes embodied by associations, academic programs, collaborative networks, and informal meetups. And this year, much of our work is taking place in our physical homes at kitchen tables, in home offices, and backyards. 

Homes require maintenance if they are to last and continue to meet the needs of those who live in them. They need more than a welcome mat if they are to be truly open to new members. And the idea of home itself needs flexibility when home is not a safe or stable place for everyone. Since this year’s ACA conference will take place virtually from wherever your home may be in June 2021, we ask you to reflect on the improvements we must make to our many homes.

Please review our Call for Submissions infographic for more details.

Deadline: November 16, 2020

Full call, submission details and form: https://archivists.ca/2021 

Questions or concerns? Contact Program.Team@archivists.ca 

The ACA thinks this message from the Canadian Council of Archives and the National Archival Appraisal Board may be of interest to our members.  The ACA will be submitting feedback to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board on the updated monetary appraisal guidelines.

Deadline for input: September 18, 2020

Link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCPERB-CCEEBC

Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB) has issued new guidelines (dated July 31, 2020) that provide instructions for appraisers and applicants about the information required and recommended format for a monetary appraisal prepared in support of an application for certification submitted to CCPERB.

The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) and the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) are seeking the input of monetary appraisers and archival institutions across Canada, regarding this updated guide.

Within an economic climate of budget restrictions and cutbacks, the purchase of valuable Canadian archival materials is prohibitive to most archives and limited to a small number of large Canadian archival institutions.  As a result, we want to encourage the ongoing deposit of cultural property in Canada's archives, and ensure that Canadians continue to be eligible for tax incentives for the donation of archival materials.

We feel that this revised guide is an excellent opportunity for the archival community to identify and consolidate areas of serious concern regarding the archival monetary appraisal framework in Canada.

You may complete the survey in either English or French and it will take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending upon the extent of input you are able to provide. A PDF of the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board Guide for Monetary Appraisal is attached to this message. The survey will also display each section of the guide (in purple) and ask if you agree or disagree with the content (in black), and if you have any feedback to provide. Please be as specific as possible.

We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To review the document, see here.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Teeple

Chair, NAAB Board of Directors

Email: karenlteeple@gmail.com

&

Joanna Aiton Kerr

Chair, CCA Board of Directors

Email: Joanna.AitonKerr@gnb.ca

The Results are In!

On behalf of the Governance Committee of the Association of Canadian Archivists, I am pleased to announce the results of our 2020 online vote.

Voter Turn-Out

33.2% of voting members participated in this historic vote, roughly three times the number of members who typically participate at our in-person AGM.

Bylaw #1 Passed

Individual Members voted overwhelming in favour of adopting new bylaw (99.2%) and endorsing a change to the ACA’s membership category. Institutional Members also voted unanimously to endorse the change to membership category. The new Bylaw #1 will now be the governing document for the association. For more information about this bylaw, please visit the ACA’s website: https://archivists.ca/ACA-2020-AGM-Bylaw-Review-and-Nominations-and-Elections-Policy

New Directors Elected

Members voted overwhelmingly to accept the slate of candidates as presented. The ACA is thrilled to announce our incoming board of directors:

Incoming President: Erica Hernández-Read

Erica Hernández-Read has been an archivist with the Northern BC Archives and Special Collections at the University of Northern British Columbia since 2006. She earned both her B.A. in Anthropology and her Master’s degree in Archival Studies from UBC and has spent the last 20 years working in the fields of archives and artifact collections management and advocating for a participatory and community-archiving approach to knowledge building. Ms. Hernández-Read is co-Chair of the Response to the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives, and a member of the Indigitization Program Steering Committee.

Incoming Treasurer: Andrea McCutcheon

Andrea McCutcheon works as an Archivist at the University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services where she oversees the institution's records management program, acquires the school’s archival administrative records, and facilitates research access to the University of Toronto Archives. She has over ten years of experience working with corporate records in public and private institutions, and hold a Master of Information from the University of Toronto Faculty of Information (2011).

Incoming Director at Large: Andrew Chernevych

Andrew Chernevych is an Archivist at the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge, Alberta. Prior to the Galt, he had worked as a contract archivist at the Provincial Archives of Alberta and was employed by the City of Wetaskiwin Archives. His holds an MA in History from the Central European University (CEU) and an MA in Folklore from the University of Alberta. Andrew has served on the Governance Committee since 2019. Over the last fifteen years, Andrew Chernevych has been involved with the Archives Society of Alberta (ASA), serving on various committees and currently finishing his term as ASA President.

Incoming Director at Large: Gillian Dunks

Gillian Dunks is Archives Arrangement and Description Librarian at McMaster University Library’s William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections, where she has worked since 2018. She holds a Master of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Archival Studies, both from the University of British Columbia. She currently serves on the ACA’s Education Committee and was previously on the executive team of the ACA student chapter at UBC. She looks forward to contributing to the governance of the Association.

Please note that start dates have been staggered to better plan for the transition to the ACA’s new bylaw, which amends term periods from calendar year to AGM dates. Starting with the 2021 elections, incoming directors will now begin their terms immediately following the AGM and serve for two years ending at their second AGM.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the vote. Thanks also to Michael Gourlie and Deirdre Bryden, who served as the 2020 Nominations Committee.

Sincerely,

Rebecka Sheffield

Chair, Governance Committee

Vice-President, 2018-2021

It’s time for another email full of links to news articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts to pertaining to Indigenous people, cultures, and issues. 

For the year ahead, we’ll be connecting these emails with the Moose Cree lunar-based calendar; the month of June aligns with Saakipakaawi-piisim (Budding Moon), a time of year when the flowers are budding or blooming.

These links have been collected and are graciously provided by Alison Little, Senior Coordinator of Educational Programming and Exhibitions at the Archives of Ontario. 

The list is provided for reference only and the ACA does not guarantee the accuracy or comprehensiveness of each resource, nor endorse a particular perspective. Our aim is only to provide opportunities for our members to learn more about Indigenous peoples and colonial issues.  

Archiving and Language Documentation panel discussion (upcoming on July 11)

Victoria museum releases more than 16,000 historical images of Indigenous life (June 17)

Review of monuments sparks discussion of colonial narratives in N.L. history (June 16)

#BLACKLIVESMATTER and Archives in Australia (June 17)

Fishing with Elders builds these children’s Oji-Cree language, cultural knowledge and writing (June 15)

We Can Decide Where to Stand: Advocating for Aboriginal Priorities as Archivists and Information Workers(June 15)

Former Fort Smith Métis president says day school settlement forms 'misleading' (June 15)

Provincial police watchdog to start collecting race-based data (June 11)

Former employees of Canadian Museum for Human Rights say they faced racism, mistreatment (June 10)

Museum makes historic Indian Reserve Commission document accessible to public (June 10)

Indigenous Recordkeeping and Archives (June 8)

Black Lives Matter translation prompts calls for changes to Ojibway language (June 5)

Red Sky Performance offers wisdom, insight, and humour to inaugural session of the Wisdom Keeper Series (June 4)

Treaty session explores realities of the histories of Canada and Nation-to-Nation (June 3)

To Breathe Together: Co-Conspirators For Decolonial Futures (June 2)

Knowledge positions in Aotearoa and Turtle Island art museums (June 1)

Covid-19, the Numbered Treaties & the Politics of Life (June)

Ottawa’s move to block statistical reports on residential schools ‘modern day colonialism,’ says survivor.” (May 27)

Challenging Colonial Spaces: Reconciliation and Decolonizing Work in Canadian Archives (May 24)

The Records of Native American Boarding Schools from Archival Outlook (May/June 2020)

Dear Colleagues,

This message is a reminder to archival educators to submit student papers to the Dodds Prize before the end of the month.

The Dodds Prize recognizes superior research and writing on an archival topic by a student enrolled in a Master's level archival studies program at a Canadian university.

To be considered, a faculty member or instructor associated with the program must submit the student paper to verify that it was written within the context of an archival studies program between May 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020. Submissions must be received by June 30, 2020.

The submission form and procedures are available on the Archivaria website.

Submissions will be judged by the Dodds Prize Adjudication Committee on the quality of their scholarship, creativity and clarity of writing. The Adjudication Committee comprises the General Editor of Archivaria (or delegate), the ACA Board Liaison to Archivaria (or delegate) and two additional ACA members chosen annually by the General Editor. Delegates will be used in cases where a conflict of interest exists.

Winners will receive a certificate, a cash prize, publication of the winning entry in Archivaria and a listing on the ACA website.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact me.

All the best,

Shyla Seller

Managing Editor, Archivaria

This year's Annual General Meeting will take place online at 12:00 EDT, Tuesday, June 23. We will use Zoom as the platform to support this year's presentation of reports, updates and motions.

The ACA Governance Committee has been focused on review and renewal of the ACA’s bylaw. The new bylaw will accomplish several tasks:

• Clarify and codify existing practices

• Remove outdated language and policy provisions

• Better align with model bylaw recommended by the Canadian Not-For-Profit Act

• Allow for full participation of members through virtual meetings and online voting

• Provide greater benefits to institutional members

All active members will receive Zoom details. For more information on downloading Zoom, see here.

To register for the AGM, please click here. A reminder that your ACA membership should be active.

These reports and the guidelines will be discussed at the AGM via Zoom at 12:00 pm EDT.

Online voting will open for motions arising from this meeting and for Board positions following the meeting, June 23, 2020 and remain open until end of day June 30, 2020.  Voting members should check that their email address is up to date and watch for an email from Simply Voting. You may need to adjust your spam filters to permit this message.

This year, Institutional members will also have a special resolution to consider their membership class and will also receive a notice to vote based on their identified contact in the ACA membership profile.

Please do not hesitate to contact the ACA office with any questions you may have.  To review the Bulletin which contains the proposed By-Law #1 and all annual reports, see here.  The agenda is also available for review.

The ACA Board of Directors

Loryl MacDonald, President

Rebecka Sheffield, Vice President

Jonathan Dorey, Treasurer

Jane Morrison, Secretary

Luciana Durant, Director-at-Large

Jeremy Heil, Director-at-Large

ACA Secretariat