Reparative Description for Indigenous-led Access in Collections: Devil is in the Dietz-tails

At the IFLA 2025 symposium 'Metadata Standards Matter: Building a Sustainable Future for Information', held at the National Library of Greece, this presentation addresses the “Accessibility Matters” subtheme. It explores how metadata standards impact access to Indigenous collections at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), located on Treaty 6 Territory in Canada. USask’s archives hold extensive materials on Indigenous Peoples, but digital platforms like Our Legacy and MemorySask face metadata issues, such as outdated language, inconsistent entries, and poor discoverability, that hinder access for Indigenous communities. These problems are compounded by ethical concerns, including lack of consent and the use of harmful or inaccurate descriptions. With new collaborative efforts involving Indigenous experts and librarians, USask is renewing its commitment to reparative metadata work, aiming to align with OCAP, CARE, and Canada’s Calls to Action.