UVic’s Associate University Librarian – Reconciliation Ry Moran, host of the new podcast series Taapwaywin, in his home studio in Summer 2022. (Credit: Chad Hipolito)
There remains a long road ahead, and truth-telling efforts remain essential. Yet, if truth must come before reconciliation, why are Indigenous truths so often suppressed?
A new podcast series—Taapwaywin: Talking about what we know and what we believe—from the University of Victoria Libraries aims to give voice to Indigenous perspectives on this question, harnessing the power of podcasting as an important and vital way of sharing knowledge beyond the classroom, or the campus.
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The intersection of libraries and Indigenous knowledge
Deep listening is what Moran and Karina Greenwood, Taapwaywin’s producer and writer, hope people do when they tune in to the series. “As a settler nation, we have the responsibility to listen to Indigenous Peoples,” says Greenwood. “Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Survivors are giving us a gift in sharing their stories—it is a privilege to listen to them.”
Since Moran’s arrival at UVic Libraries, his work has been to recognize that Indigenous knowledge comes from many sources. Some is written down, but much of it can only be accessed through relationship, dialogue and listening.
The learning ahead
As creator, host and composer, Moran’s goal for this multi-year series is for the podcast to meaningfully contribute to the dialogue underway on some of the complex topics enmeshed within the work of truth and reconciliation. By amplifying the voices, ideas and efforts of leading thinkers and Knowledge Keepers on these topics, the podcast aims to help bring important perspectives to listeners across the world.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
Deep listening is what Moran and Karina Greenwood, Taapwaywin’s producer and writer, hope people do when they tune in to the series. “As a settler nation, we have the responsibility to listen to Indigenous Peoples,” says Greenwood. “Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Survivors are giving us a gift in sharing their stories—it is a privilege to listen to them.”
