Although libraries are often viewed as trusted spaces for readers and learners, they are not free from the colonial histories embedded in traditional knowledge organization systems. The colonial history in Canada has forced Indigenous Peoples to envision themselves within imposed frameworks, reflected in library classification systems that present inaccurate, offensive, and biased representation of the Indigenous Peoples. This Ignite Talk explores how Kwantlen Polytechnic University Library is reimagining metadata practices through the χʷəχʷéy̓əm Indigenous Collection, implementing a modified Brian Deer Indigenous Classification system that centers Indigenous voices and ways of knowing.
