On October 22, 2021, the Open Education Working Group invites you to join us for the inaugural Open Education and Indigenous Knowledges Symposium to learn about and discuss the intersections between open education and Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing. Many conversations around open education (OE) focus on a Eurocentric framework of copyright and intellectual property rights that are sometimes in tension with Indigenous knowledge systems. The goal of the Open Education and Indigenous Knowledges Symposium is to centre Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, experiences, and worldviews within our OE advocacy work. 

Moderators 

Tashia Kootenayo (President, SUO) and Donna Langille (Community Engagement and Open Education Librarian, UBC Okanagan)  

Keynote, Open Education and Ethical Consideration for Indigenous Knowledges

Speaker: Kayla Lar-Son

The open education movement has provided a substantial improvement to the learning and research needs of students, faculty, and community members. This has been done through various barrier free methods of publishing, and mitigates any financial strains that can occur. However within the open access movement there needs to be careful consideration for Indigenous Knowledges, which are deeply rooted in community defined ethics and protocols, that do not fit into ordinary academic contexts. This talk will address some of the concerns around open access and Indigenous Knowledges, while exploring tools, principles, and practices for engaging with Indigenous communities.

Kayla Lar-Son is Metis and Ukrainian Settler, originally from Treaty 6 Territory. She is currently the Indigenous programs and services librarian for the Xwi7xwa library at UBC and the program manager librarian for the Indigitization program. Kayla is also a co-host for masinahikan iskwêwak the Book Women podcast.

Schedule of Activities & Speakers 

This event is being organized by the Students' Union Okanagan and the UBC Okanagan Open Education Working Group in partnership with Indigenous Programs and Services, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and the UBC Okanagan Library

The Open Education Working Group, formalized in 2020, develops awareness and builds capacity for the adoption, adaption, and creation of open educational resources (OER) at University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus by sharing information and coordinating efforts among key stakeholders who lead and support open education initiatives on campus and across the university. Membership includes librarians, students, faculty members, and staff members from varying units on campus (i.e., The Students’ Union, UBCO Library, Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Office of the Provost, Campus Bookstore). 

Location Details

Location:

*ONLINE*

If you have any questions, concerns, or accessibility needs please email open.ubc@ubc.ca.

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