celebrating indigenous people's day with a beautiful evening in the port hardy library

We always host something special for Indigenous Peoples Day at the Port Hardy Library, and this year was our best program yet. That wasn't because of the numbers of people who showed up, although turnout was strong. It was the quality of the program, the feel of the evening, the feedback we received from participants. For me personally, it was extremely gratifying.

We hosted two Indigenous elders, both women, who led workshops in an art of their culture. In one, participants created mini button blankets; in the other, people learned cedar weaving technique, using paper and other materials substituting for cedar. 

Why was it such a great program? 

* The participants were both First Nations and  settler. That, sadly, is rare. The library is one of the few places where we see the two communities interact in a positive way.

* People were relaxed and happy, chatting quietly while they sewed and wove. 

* Three participants had never been to the library before, and signed up for new library cards! This is a big win!

* Everyone kept thanking us for the experience, telling us what a great night it was.

* Both these elders have been struggling with isolation and depression. They have both lost many family members in the past few years, many who were very young, from addiction and suicide. They each told me the program gave them a huge uplift, a chance to connect with people, a reminder that they are not alone. This is valuable beyond measure.

And for me personally, this program was an opportunity to look back and see how far we've come. When I first came to Port Hardy, Indigenous people wouldn't step foot in our library. The library's relationship with the community was tense at best, and often much worse. 

Navigating this new terrain, I often felt like I was fumbling blindly. I made mistakes. I learned. I persisted. My staff and I, supported by library leadership, slowly built relationships, proving our intentions by being respectful, accessible, trustworthy, and caring. We built relationships by being allies.