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The BCIT Unlearning Club month three: Talking about racism

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The work of unlearning racism continues. This month we had three teachers:

  • Dr. Stephanie Nixon, BA, BHSC, MSC, PHD is a white settler and a physiotherapist. She is the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University.
  • Dr. Amy Tan, MD MSc (Palliative Medicine) CCFP(PC) FCFP is an academic family and hospice palliative care physician. Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.
  • Layla Saad is an author, speaker & teacher on the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation & social change.

The larger time and energy commitment this month was to read Me and white supremacy: Combat racism, change the world and become a good ancestor by Layla F. Saad. The BCIT Library owns the audio book if you are interested, it’s available here. The title was chosen specifically to disrupt and make people uncomfortable. I read a physical version. Honestly made me feel weird having something with “white supremacy” on the cover in my home. The book opens with an Octavia Butler quote from Parable of the Talents, so, being a huge Butler fan, I was immediately won over.

To shape God
With wisdom and forethought
To benefit your world,
Your people,
Your life,
Consider consequences
Minimize harm
Ask questions,
Seek answers,
Learn,
Teach.
Earthseed: The books of the Living I,
Verse 43: Octavia Butler, Parable of the Talents

For anyone not up to the task of reading a whole book (and journaling about it) there are a few shorter resources to check out:

This marks the halfway point of the first BCIT Unlearning club. See you next month.

The BCIT Unlearning Club Month Two: February, Anti-racism

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How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Imagining away the existence of races in a racist world is as harmful as imagining away classes in a capitalistic world – it allows the ruling races & classes to keep on ruling. 

  • Ibram X. Kendi 

For this month our teacher was Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. I read How to be an Anti-racist. Available at the BCIT Library. Actually, Dr. Kendi read it to me, as I borrowed the audio book from the Burnaby Public Library. This was an instance where hearing the author speak was especially powerful as it is a very personal book; he brings the reader along on his own journey of learning and discovering and dismantling his own biases.  

The shorter option, for the BCIT Unlearning Club homework, this month was to watch Dr. Kendi’s TedTalk: Difference between being “not racist” and antiracist. Which is a good starting point for understanding some of the philosophy behind the book. A book club summary was also shared from DePaul University’s President’s Bookclub, with definitions, chapter outlines, and useful discussion questions. For anyone with the capacity for extra homework there was a link to a CBC Documentary, (44m 18s) The Skin We’re In: Pulling back the curtain on racism in Canada.

The BCIT Unlearning Club found lots to talk about without turning to the provided questions. The discussions were both personal and general as well as wide-ranging, everything from systemic racism, and religion, to climate justice. We ended with two things, firstly a sharing of what actions we can and have taken at BCIT to make a difference, including sharing the recent launch of new BCIT Student Wellbeing Action Plan. Secondly, we did a weather check-in with everyone, and most of us, who had been feeling down at the start of the session could see a little sunshine for the rest of the day. 

Thanks again to Tami and Andrea for guiding us on this journey and leading discussions that abide by our commitment to arrive ready to join in the conversation with respect, curiosity, humility, and reciprocity. 

The BCIT Unlearning Club Month One: January

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We have described for you a mountain; we have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.

-Justice Murray Sinclair

Learn along with me and the BCIT Unlearning Club as we engage with materials each month and start on a journey to unlearn racism.

Created and developed during the COVID-19 pandemic the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer put together a curriculum and process for reflecting on racism and its links to health. The resources and documentation for the Unlearning and Undoing Project can be found here. In the BCIT Unlearning Club, Tami and Andrea have modified this established curriculum to reflect an educational context, while also integrating the lenses of health and wellness.

The first iteration of the Unlearning Club at BCIT, which includes faculty and staff, will meet 6 times between January and June 2025, in-person at the BCIT Burnaby campus. Together we will engage with the materials, tell stories, listen, learn challenge ourselves to unlearn the biases normalized in society and make meaningful connections with each other in a safe space.

Each month there is an opportunity to prepare with a shallow or deep dive version of the course materials. The homework for the first meeting was to watch a TedTalk by Dr. Carmara Jones, Former president of the American Public Health Association, who launched a national campaign against racism, Allegories on race and racism  and read an accompanying article Toward the Science and Practice of Anti-Racism: Launching a National Campaign Against Racism .

OR

Watch 13th (2016) on Netflix, a thought-provoking documentary, where scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.

I chose the TedTalk. I would recommend it to anyone. Especially people who, like me, sometime finds it difficult to explain to people the systematic racism baked into government that prevents people from minority groups from succeeding in our society. The allegory of the gardener providing nutrient-rich soil in one garden box and poor rocky soil in another was very strong, well thought-out and not threatening to some who might feel a need to erect barriers before the conversation even got started.

At our first gathering we learned about what brought each of us to the Unlearning Club and we shared a little about ourselves and our family history. There was a fulsome and engaging discussion about the sort of space where each of us feels we can be our authentic selves.

I look forward to sharing more with you very soon.

 

Behind the scenes at the BCIT Library: Decolonizing the Collection

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Indigenous book display in the BCIT Library

Indigenous book display in the BCIT Library.

A hot topic at library conferences has been “Decolonizing the Collection.” This is shorthand for some very technical, intensive, and necessary changes that need to be made to our database(s). Library cataloguing in North America is based on Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) that were started in the late 19th century and have evolved slowly since then. This comprehensive and structured vocabulary list, used for cataloguing and indexing in libraries, is inherently problematic but also very useful for libraries worldwide, making it an essential tool for resource discovery and subject access.

Despite its widespread use, LCSH has faced criticism for its historical biases and limitations. The system reflects a Western-centric perspective, and its controlled vocabulary does not adequately represent marginalized communities or emerging disciplines. Nonetheless, LCSH remains a vital tool for libraries and information professionals, and efforts are ongoing to make it more inclusive and representative of diverse perspectives.

Library & Archives Canada (LAC) has written some strategies and initiatives, as part of their Indigenous Heritage Action Plan, based on United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), “we will adapt the words we use to describe LAC collections related to First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation to enhance access and to ensure a culturally appropriate and respectful approach.” While LAC has made some progress LCSH has made very little. The interconnected, standardized, and digital nature of library cataloguing makes waiting for LCSH the easy route. However, libraries have gotten tired of waiting.

Library workers don’t let our tiredness get us down, instead, we find ways to act. A small but dedicated team in the BCIT Library is working to decolonize our catalogue. Using an Excel spreadsheet of almost 1100 problematic terms found in our catalogue, the work done by the Great Victoria Public Library, Xwi7xwa Library at UBC, and Canadian Research Knowledge Network, we are meticulously combing through the problematic terms and finding appropriate updated, and respectful replacement terms. Once the initial groundwork is complete, we will consult with BCIT Indigenous Initiatives about the exact terms chosen.

You will hear from me again when we launch these changes. The change for BCIT Library patrons will be seamless. Behind the scenes will be a great deal of upkeep and monitoring as digital titles arrive in our Collections all of the time with LCSH terms automatically embedded. Because of the way Library Management Software works LCSH will still be in the system. However, rather than display offensive terms the system will ping the final spreadsheet we create display the updated term(s). Library patrons will be able to use the hyperlinked Subject Heading as they normally would to find related materials. In the end, creating and maintaining this spreadsheet will make it easier for us to update and manage the needed changes to our Subject Headings.

The BCIT Library is striving to be a more inclusive and welcoming space for all. Decolonizing the catalogue is just one of the goals that we are working towards. Thanks to Cindy Chang, François-Xavier Paré, Jarrett Seto, and Cindy McLellan.

A version of this post was previously published on the BCIT FSA blog in June 2024. At that time I had several requests for examples so people could have a better understanding. I have included a couple examples below.

Please be aware that in order to include examples I have taken terms that you will still find in search results or library materials, which reflect the authors attitude or that of the period in which the item was created or catalogued and those terms are considered offensive.

An example of an official Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) still in use:

Haida Indian women.

Essentially removing the word “Indian” will make a more accurate, useful, and respectful Subject Term:

Haida – Women.

A second example of an official LCSH still in use today:

Indian children.

This will be updated to:

Indigenous children OR First Nations children

These changes are long overdue and will help to improve search and to our resources.

Turtle Island – Check it out on the 3rd floor of the Library

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Turtle Island map

Looking at the land another way. https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com/turtle-island-decolonized/

Maps have always been an interesting way to interpret and visualize space. To formulate the physical realm, yet somehow only tell part of the story. Part of reality. Our hubris and our biases leak into maps. There’s Lovecraftian beasts from the deep on the edges. Fonts, styles, a mosaic of cultural norms embedded in our psyche and spewed out onto paper. I’ve been fascinated by them since childhood. I draw maps. Fantasy lands, empires, islands, historical military campaigns, geologic surveys, all of it. Too much of my day is spent on Google Maps. I find strange map artwork in the hinterlands of Instagram and go to the creator’s web-page to purchase their work. Suffice to say, I may be quite passionate about maps. Don’t get me started on the pitfalls of the Mercator projection.

Online one day I stumbled upon the decolonial atlas of Turtle Island. Turtle Island is what North America’s also known as, and has been referred to as, for quite some time. A visual representation of space and place names in different Indigenous languages. North America on its side too. What a map!  We’re decolonizing our collection in the library, and I thought this find quite fortuitous. Like two currents of seemingly unrelated thought lined up together. Or going fishing at the start of season, casting, and immediately pulling in a seventeen-pound lake trout with ease. We had space on the wall for this. I checked the license – Creative Commons Non-Commercial. Anyone can download and print the map for noncommercial purposes. Great. So, our MediaWorks team formatted it and printed it out. The Public Services supervisor had it laminated and it’s now proudly on display on the third floor to the right as you come up the stairs. Go check it out and see what your hometown may have been called for hundreds or possibly thousands of years before you were around.

Post by Jarrett Seto, Technical Services Supervisor

 

Indulge Without the Guilt: Vegan and Gluten-Free Homemade Rolo Knock-Offs

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oh she glows, cookbookNovember is Vegan Month, and it’s the perfect time to embrace plant-based recipes that satisfy your cravings without compromising your values. Today, I want to share – Homemade Rolo Knock-Offs! These little bites of chocolatey, caramel goodness are not only vegan and gluten-free but also packed with wholesome ingredients that will leave you feeling nourished and indulgent.

I first borrowed The oh she glows cookbook: vegan recipes to glow from the inside out by Angela Liddon from the BCIT Library in 2014 and made these for my book club. I needed snacks that were gluten free and vegan. Anyone can put out hummus, veggies, and gluten free crackers but this dessert stole the evening. Ten years on I am still making them.

Why Choose Vegan and Gluten-Free?

When it comes to indulging your sweet tooth, choosing plant-based, gluten-free options isn’t just about dietary preferences — it’s about making conscious choices for your health and the planet. These homemade Rolo knock-offs offer all the satisfaction of a candy bar without the dairy, refined sugars, or gluten found in traditional treats.

  1. Vegan-Friendly: The recipe uses wholesome ingredients like dates, coconut oil, and dairy-free chocolate to create a rich, decadent taste, without any animal products. You won’t miss the traditional caramel-filled center of a Rolo at all.
  2. Gluten-Free: Made with naturally gluten-free ingredients, these homemade candies are perfect for those with gluten sensitivities or anyone following a gluten-free diet.
  3. Simple Ingredients: The five simple ingredients in this recipe (dates, almond butter, dairy-free chocolate, sea salt, and coconut oil) are wholesome and minimally processed, offering a healthier alternative to conventional candies.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (about 11 dates)
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter (or peanut butter)
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free (dark) chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • A pinch of flaky sea salt (for topping)

Step 1: Make the Caramel Filling

  • Start by soaking your dates in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften them up. After draining, blend the dates, almond butter and a pinch of sea salt together in a food processor until smooth and creamy.
  • Freeze the sticky date caramel for 10 minutes to make it easier to work with.

Step 2: Form the Balls

  • Wet your hands and roll small spoonfuls of the caramel mixture into bite-sized balls and set them on a parchment-lined tray. Return to freezer while you do the next step.

Step 3: Coat with Chocolate

  • Melt your dairy-free chocolate chips and coconut oil together in a heatproof bowl over a double boiler or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently. Once melted, dip each caramel ball into the chocolate, ensuring it’s fully coated.
  • Place the chocolate-covered caramel balls back on the parchment paper.

Step 4: Add a Pinch of Sea Salt

  • Sprinkle a pinch of flakey sea salt on top of each chocolate-covered bite.

Step 5: Chill and Enjoy

  • Let the chocolate set by placing the tray in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, or until firm. Once chilled, your homemade Rolo knock-offs are ready to enjoy!

Tips for Success

  • Storage: They keep in the freezer very well. They are challenging to resist once you know they are there.
  • Presentation: These little candies make great homemade gifts! Package them in a small jar or box for a personal touch during the holiday season.

The end of November is fast-approaching. The season for holiday parties (and exams) are upon us. Treat yourself and your friends!

What are your favourite vegan treats to make during Vegan Month? Let us know in the comments below!

Embrace Veganism this November: A Journey Towards Sustainability

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Did you know that the meat industry is one of the leading contributors to climate change? Since 1994 November has been celebrated as vegan month, it’s crucial to understand the profound impact our dietary choices have on the planet. According to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock farming accounts for nearly 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO, 2013). In addition to emissions, animal agriculture is a significant driver of deforestation, with vast tracts of forest cleared for grazing land and feed crops, contributing to biodiversity loss (World Wildlife Fund, 2020). Nutrient runoff from livestock operations also pollutes waterways, affecting aquatic ecosystems (US EPA, 2021).

Switching to a plant-based diet not only helps mitigate these environmental issues but also promotes personal health and well-being. To kickstart your journey, here’s a simple and delicious recipe: Enlightened Miso Power Bowl (serves 2) from The Oh She Glows Cookbook  by Angela Liddon

Ingredients

1 sweet potato, cut into 1 cm rounds

1 ½ tsp olive oil or coconut oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 c quinoa, uncooked

1 c edamame, frozen, shelled, thawed

1 carrot, julienned

2 green onions, thinly sliced

¼ c cilantro leaves, chopped

1 tsp sesame seeds

1/4 c sprouts

Orange Maple Miso Dressing

3 Tbsp light miso

2 Tbsp rice vinegar

1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 Tbsp tahini

1/4 c orange juice

1 Tbsp water

1 tsp maple syrup

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C), line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the sweet potato rounds on the baking sheet and drizzle the oil over, rub in the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, flip over the slices and roast another 10 minutes until tender and lightly browned.
  2. Whisk the dressing ingredients together until smooth.
  3. Prepare the quinoa by first rinsing thoroughly. Then bring to a boil with 1 ½ c water, simmer for 15 to 17 minutes. Cover with a lid and let sit at least 5 minutes off the heat.
  4. To serve, divide the quinoa between 2 plates, season with salt and pepper, top with roasted sweet potato, carrots, edamame, green onion, cilantro, as well as sesame seeds and sprouts. Drizzle with the dressing and enjoy.

For more great vegan recipes check out the cookbooks behind the Reference desk on the main floor or the TX 837 section on the 3rd floor of the BCIT Library (Burnaby campus).

As you explore vegan options this month, remember that every bite counts. By choosing plant-based meals, you’re making a positive impact on the environment and your health. Let’s champion a sustainable future together!

References:

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2013). Tackling climate change through livestock. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/492bb0b2-8b73-4e49-b188-8176b1d8c711/content

World Wildlife Fund. (2020). Deforestation and its impact on biodiversity. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Nutrient pollution. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution

In the Midnight Sweatlodge: Tales of Discovery & Healing by Waubgeshig Rice

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Author: Amruta Phansalker

Not a typical collection of short stories, but a gem that will set you on a course of cultural discovery!

I have always been intrigued by different cultures, customs, folklore, and traditions. As someone with Indian roots, I grew up hearing tales of the richness of my culture, the diversity of its myriad languages and dialects, and the beauty in its various art forms. Naturally, when I moved to Canada, I was fascinated with Canada’s Indigenous history, and to quiesce my curiosity, I turned to our city’s library. While the library’s collections had me confounded, I felt a tad bit deflated. How was I ever to overcome the vastness of the Indigenous knowledge? Our kindly librarian recommended “Midnight Sweatlodge”, Waubgeshig Rice’s collection of stories centered around the Anishinaabe Sweatlodge Ceremony.

Rice sets stage by introducing the reader to a Sweatlodge Ceremony attended by a compelling cast of characters, each having borne the burden of life’s hardships, whether in familial conflict, personal loss, or in walking the tightrope between old ways and modern ways. At midnight, as the Sweatlodge Ceremony is underway, each character lays bare their pain, grapples with their identity, and seeks healing, all under the tutelage of an Elder. The book consists of four short stories, each an exploration of vulnerability and truth-telling, written in a raw and evocative style.

Interestingly, the narrators of the stories span across all ages. “Dust” tells the story of land confrontation, tragedy, and death through the eyes of a young child; “Solace” is the story of a young adolescent’s tumultuous life as he witnesses familial strife and its tragic impact; “Bloodlines” is the story of a young adult torn between love and remaining true to his roots; and “Aasinaabe” is presented through the eyes of a mature adult, and centers around parenting and apocalypse.

Through the emotional intensity of the ritual and its cathartic effect on the participants, Rice captures the struggles faced by the contemporary Indigenous communities. Rice’s vivid descriptions of the woods, the lake, the dusty roads, poignantly brings out the stark and the subtle differences between contemporary living and “life on the Rez”. The crisp narrative style effectively describes difficult realities, but ultimately offers a message of hope and healing.

Albeit short, “Midnight Sweatlodge” is a thought-provoking read, and a great entry point for those unfamiliar with the Indigenous culture.

Of Food, Of Healing, Of Cultural Connect

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Author: Amruta Phansalker

Shane M. Chartrand’s Tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine is an inspirational cookbook that serves as an odyssey into Shane’s discovery of his history.

Slice of cake on a plate.

Author’s attempt at recreating “Chocolate Beet Cake with Saskatoon Berries”, minus the berries.

Food is fuel, an ineliminable part of our lives, a tool for sustenance. Food teaches us to love, to share, and to make memories. Food helps us discover cultures, and in that, serves as a gateway to understanding and appreciating other ways of life. Shane Chartrand’s Tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine bears testimony to the role of food. It is a reflection of the Indigenous approach to food, and especially their focus on the value of interdependency on the land and animals on whom we depend for food.

In Indigenous cultures, food isn’t merely to satiate, but to heal, and therefore, it is thought to have a spiritual role. In a short introductory preface, Chartrand reveals deeply personal details that influenced and shaped him, including his parents’ role, his early days in the food industry, and a chance encounter with a long-lost cousin that set him on a path of discovering his roots.

Nestled in the stories of the land and of people who influenced him, is a revelation of what Chartrand calls “progressive indigenous fare”, which is an amalgamation of traditional wisdoms and modern living. The book combines many styles of writing, and in its expository style, can be best thought of as part cookbook and part exploration of the cooking philosophy of the Indigenous communities.

The recipes are arranged according to seasons, bringing into focus the importance of “seasonal” eating and the Indigenous value of respect for nature. Chartrand uses descriptive titles for his dishes that are reminiscent of its origins, and of his endeavor in discovering the ingredients and techniques of Indigenous cultures. Throughout the book, Chartrand narrates excerpts from the many interviews and conversations he had, while highlighting the culinary influences and nutritional value of the food. This unique story-telling style is supplemented by visually stunning photographs, making reading an enjoyable experience. Readers will be intrigued by the recipes, whether it is the humble White Bean Dip, or the award-winning “War Paint”.

Containing over 75 recipes, for budding cooks, skilled chefs, and the avant-garde food connoisseurs, Tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine is a deeply personal work that informs, educates, and inspires. But above all, it teaches us that food is ceremonial, and that creating flavors while honoring our culture is indeed, a work of art.

 

Indigenous author & Indigenous content stickers in the Library

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Next time you are browsing the BCIT Library’s (awesome) Popular Reading collection look for these stickers. They indicate books with Indigenous authors or Indigenous content.

Libraries often use stickers to highlight content and draw the eyes of patrons. The BCIT Library has a few that we use including one for BCIT authors! The Indigenous authors and content sticker project has been a labour of love contributed to by many on the BCIT Library staff including the MediaWorks team, Librarians, and of course, the Technical Services Team.

Some Library staff are continuing to promote Indigenous works in our collection by writing book reviews on the BCIT Library blog. Watch for the tag Indigenous Authors and the Indigenous author logo on this blog for some fantastic and heartfelt recommendations from BCIT Library staff.

If you are on a journey to learn more about the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada (and beyond) I encourage you to borrow some of the titles in our collections. Suggestions of books to enhance our collection are always welcome. Thank you for reading. Please share your favourite books by Indigenous authors with us on Instagram and Facebook.