Kainai boasts first public library on First Nation

The establishment of a public library within a First Nations community is one more way to make a difference on the Kainai First Nation.

The library is a huge stepping-stone that enables the community members to come together and support literacy, numeracy and the Blackfoot language within a healthy and positive environment, says library manager Linda Weasel Head.
“The schools are doing a lot for their students, but the community adults need a place where they can receive instruction - to become employable. Over time we want to do away with poverty,” she said.

The grassroots initiative to establish a full-service public library prompted the Kainai Literacy Committee, along with the Kainai Board of Education and the Tribal Council, to approach Chinook Arch Library System.

As First Nations reserves are under federal jurisdiction, start-up funds were a challenge as no money is available specifically for First Nation public libraries. But CALS bylaws allow the organization to work with school boards within their region, says Weasel Head, so the funds were able to run through the Kainai Board of Education.

“One of the things that a number of people are trying to do is to get the federal government to provide funding specifically for public libraries,” said Maggie Macdonald, CEO, Chinook Arch Regional Library System. “That’s one part of the problem and that’s why the local development counts so much.”

The Kainai Public Library is an instant library, much the same as the 32 other libraries within the region, offering automatic access to 900,000 items through the digital catalog. There are minor additions like the inclusion of Blackfoot culture related materials. 
It is up to the community to engage in programming as they choose, says Macdonald.  Future plans to develop programs surrounding storytelling, legends and an Elder’s room are also in the talks, all of which will take place in the new multi-services building that will house the library within the next couple of months. Fundraising is underway for $45,000 to pay for furniture, shelving and eight more computers.

Presently the library is in a temporary location, neighbouring the Kainai Alternate Academy School, in Standoff.

The members of the community have benefited greatly since the library has been launched.

“Prior to this, people had to travel over 30 kilometres to have access to a library. The funds and travel were lacking, so having something local provided that for a lot of our families,” said literacy teacher and committee member Hali Heavy Shields.

“Sadly some of the libraries didn’t want our people in the libraries and that is another thing that we have to remove- knowledge is for everybody, not just for the advantaged people,” said Weasel Head.

With respect to membership costs, the Kainai public library charges $5 per individual 12 years and up, $15 per family, and free for those younger than 12.  The First Nation Student Success Program can fund students if eligible.

The collaboration has won an Innovation award at the municipal library conference, as well as with the Alberta Library Association and has been featured in the Alberta Ventures publication under the Top 25 Innovative Organizations in Alberta of 2013.

Macdonald says CALS would be “quite happy to offer services” to the region’s other First Nation, the Piikani.