Indigenous Initiatives

From innovative services to transformative learning experiences, UBC Library connects students, faculty, staff, and community members with resources that spark curiosity, foster creativity, and deepen understanding. This same commitment to learning and discovery drives the Library’s efforts to strengthen Indigenous representation and access across its collections, spaces, and services.

Your gift will make a lasting impact—helping the Library grow initiatives that celebrate Indigenous voices, foster connection, and support community partnerships, including:

• An Indigenous Elder and Knowledge Keeper Program for UBC Library, to uplift Indigenous Knowledges, stories, and cultural sovereignty.

• Our Indigenous Internship Program for students in UBC’s School of Information, offering paid, part-time experience in librarianship and archival work.
• Commissioned Indigenous Artwork that raises awareness and creates welcoming spaces reflecting the First Nations lands and communities where we live and learn.

UBC Library’s ongoing initiatives—including our Basic Indigenous Reference Training program, the Indigenous Community Borrower Card system, and the effort to revise over 17,000 subject headings at the Xwi7xwa Library—reflect our dedication to meaningful change.

Together, we can build a library where students gain new perspectives, faculty deepen the integration of Indigenous content in their teaching and research, and communities thrive through cultural understanding and shared learning.

Honouring and advancing Indigenous stories, languages, and ways of knowing goes beyond honouring those who came before us. We’re equipping future generations with the tools to lead with empathy, to innovate with context, and to build a better world. We invite you to join us in this journey with your gift.