OCAD University's Dorothy H. Hoover Library, The Learning Zone, Archives and Visual Resources & Special Collections (hereafter referred to as “The Library”) join the OCADU community in condemning anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism of all kinds, but especially the events we are seeing across the country and around the world. We believe Black and Indigenous Lives Matter.
We stand in solidarity with the families and communities of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Joyce Echaquan, D'Andre Campbell, Rodney Levi, the Sipekne'katik First Nation, the Six Nations Land Defenders and countless others who are affected by the legacy of violence against Black and Indigenous people in this country. We also acknowledge the impact that systemic racism has had during the pandemic, causing disproportionate illness and death for people of colour.
We recognize that our community is not only currently living through a pandemic crisis, but also an ongoing crisis brought about by colonialism and white supremacy. The Library commits to work towards decolonization and active anti-racism by undertaking a review of our practices, collections, and policies. OCADU's mission statement includes a vow to "nurture diversity and resilience, and practice equity, inclusion, sustainability, and respect for Indigenous voices and cultures," and we intend to ensure our actions reflect this promise by examining our work, our dedication to equity in access to information, and our success at being a welcoming community hub. To start, the Library is creating a Racial Justice and Anti-Racism research guide that will highlight key resources, books, film, and activism around understanding racism and fighting for racial justice. There is much more work to be done.
The OCAD University Library's job is to support students, faculty, staff, and emerging and established artists and designers, and the work we do going forward will follow the lead of Black and Indigenous artists, illustrators, designers, writers, activists, and creatives. We will continue to work together with the OCADU community to build a Library that is welcoming and accessible to everyone.
*We will share a link to the Racial Justice and Anti-Racism guide when it goes live March 1, and we will update this statement regularly as the Library undertakes further actions.
January 14, 2021