Friday, April 26, 2024
Student Reflections
Alan Colín-Arce (he/him), University of Victoria
Towards More Caring Digital Archives
As someone who just moved from Mexico to unceded Lekwungen territory, it has been interesting to learn about the history of Indigenous communities and immigrants in Canada. The Crossing Fonds Symposium was not only an opportunity to learn more about this history, and the past and present activism in British Columbia and beyond, but also an opportunity to reflect on how archives (physical and digital) shape the history of activism and social movements.
The keynotes and presentations invited us to reflect on and question who is creating and managing archival records, how to ensure their sustainability, the biases and silences in archives, and, most importantly, how to address them. There was no shortage of initiatives and ideas to address these challenges. Presentations covered how community archives, library partnerships, creative forms of data visualization, ethics of care, among other approaches, can help in this endeavor.
While archives have a history of furthering misrepresentation, harm, and oppression, the presenters at the Crossing Fonds Symposium showed that archives can also be sites that resist and challenge these wrongs. Digital archives have the potential to increase access and engagement with records, but not by design alone. This task requires discussions like the ones we had at the symposium about the tools we use in digital archives, the funding needed to develop and maintain them, and crucially the people whose history and heritage is present in these archives.
The presentations at the Crossing Fonds Symposium showed how digital records can prioritize care, accessibility, Indigenous data sovereignty, and community engagement. Hearing how researchers, archivists, students, and activists prioritize these principles in their work inspired me, and most likely other conference attendees, to work towards a more inclusive and caring digital cultural record.
Kiara Dabreo (she/her), University of the Fraser Valley
Reflection on the Crossing Fonds Symposium
Presenting my research at the Crossing Fonds Symposium was an incredible experience, especially since it was my first conference. Even though I was quite nervous, I was also excited to share my work with people in the industry in addition to learning more from their experiences. I found the variety of workshops helpful and am grateful they introduced me to a new world of digital media.
Participating in the conference also made me realize how fast the industry of digital archiving is evolving. The innovative approaches and technologies on display were impressive. I loved the collaborative, friendly atmosphere and the shared passion for preserving digital heritage found at the Crossing Fonds symposium.
Sky Dragushan (they/them), University of Victoria
Intersectional Approaches to Digital Archives: A Reflection on Crossing Fonds 2024
Through the Crossing Fonds symposium, I was exposed to new and diverse ideas within the GLAM field. As an undergraduate student, I haven’t had the opportunity yet to explore librarianship and archival theory in depth, let alone such fascinating intersections of radically informed archival practices like those discussed at the Crossing Fonds symposium.At the symposium, I loved learning about recent advances in metadata scholarship, like Dr. Andrea Fatona’s workshop on BIPOC representation in archival descriptions. I also enjoyed learning about the Crossing Fonds page supported by Omeka, as it helped me grow a deeper understanding of the platform.
While I have experience with researching physical artefacts, I don’t have a lot of hands-on archival or library experience. As such, hearing from leading voices in the field about digital archiving pedagogy was phenomenal. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to ask questions after each talk and to personally chat with presenters and other conference-goers during breaks in the program.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Student Reflections
Olivia Daniel (she/her), Simon Fraser University
Preserving Legacy for Future Generations: Kwantlen First Nation Archive
The Crossing Fonds Symposium was not only an opportunity to share my experiences archiving for the Kwantlen First Nation, but one which also allowed me to connect with another Indigenous community interested in these pathways. After the conference, one of the archivists for the Tŝilhqot’in National Government reached out to me discuss the possibility of implementing Mukurtu CMS for their digital archive. It is an honour and privilege to assist Indigenous communities and collaborate on new projects.
Ng Mawonthing, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Expanding Horizons: A Symposium Reflection
Attending the Crossing Fonds symposium was an enriching and awe-inspiring experience. The diverse array of methodologies and innovative ideas presented not only broadened my understanding, but also provided actionable insights that I am eager to integrate into my own work. I was particularly impressed by the creative strategies employed to address issues such as data preservation, metadata standardisation, and user accessibility. The practical approaches I learned from my fellow presenters will undoubtedly influence my future projects. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an inspiring academic event.
Roxy Moon (they/them), University of Toronto
Learning from Each Other
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the Crossing Fonds Symposium as a student presenter. Not only were the other presenters and keynote speakers incredibly interesting, but it was my first real opportunity to share my work with the larger digital archiving community. This experience allowed me to field questions and think through how to improve upon my research methodologies for upcoming work I plan to do. Throughout my graduate program I have been researching Palestinian digital archives and how Palestinians use online avenues to sharing historical materials. Being able to share this work in such a supportive environment was a fantastic way to end the final year of my MI. It was truly inspiring to hear about the work coming out of the field of digital archiving and the ways that students are seeking to push the field forward. Overall, I felt supported throughout the entire process, and I believe that participating in the symposium and hearing about the work actively being done in the field has only strengthened my excitement for the continued growth of research within digital archiving.
Carolyn Smith, Dalhousie University
Learning from Many Voices
I was honored to have served as a student presenter for the Crossing Fonds Symposium 2024 in Vancouver, B.C. The four-day event brought together a diverse group of speakers and participants, all passionate about creating a more inclusive and diverse environment within the fields of physical and digital archives. The online ecosystem developed by the Crossing Fonds team offered new and insightful knowledge on potential steps forward for digital archival work. Since the Crossing Fonds platform was the core of the symposium, attendees were encouraged to examine the collaboration and building of community among archive spaces.
The symposium provided me with the opportunity to share information on my proposed thesis, a study that aims to understand the role of settler-based community archives in the process of decolonization within Canada. Conversation following my presentation provided thoughtful feedback, excitement for the study, and questions I will consider throughout.
The symposium featured presentations on decolonization, Indigenous data sovereignty, accessibility in the archive, and many other speakers representing a diverse group of marginalized communities. It was an honor to be listening, learning, and engaging with individuals who have made incredible impacts towards increasing inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity within archival spaces. The lessons they imparted have influenced my understanding of archival fields, and the fluidity of its designations.