Re-posting from Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL): 

CAAL is pleased to announce the inaugural recipient of the CAAL Indigenous Professional Development Grant – Kristan Belanger.

Kristan is a Mi’kmaq scholar and professional dedicated to the fields of law, Information Science, and Indigenous knowledge stewardship.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Information at Dalhousie University with a specialization in librarianship (expected 2025).  Kristan’s thesis, Natawitplutaqatiek (We Are Good Law Makers): Mi’kmaw Law Library Scoping Study, focuses on the development of a framework for the creation of a Mi’kmaw Law Library, an initiative that seeks to preserve, revitalize, and make accessible Mi’kmaw legal traditions and knowledge.

Beyond her studies, Kristan is actively engaged in professional Indigenous knowledge & information stewardship initiatives.  As a Research and Data Analytics Officer at the Department of Canadian Heritage, she has led policy development related to Indigenous intellectual property and the implementation of the UNDRIP Action Plan Measure 101.  Additionally, her role as Research Lead for the Lnuwey Tplutaqan Wikuom has allowed her to lead strategic planning on information stewardship related to Indigenous law, organize workshops on Indigenous legal revitalization, and contribute to the creation of specialized research collections.  She is also currently involved in community-led efforts at the Dunn Law Library, where she is assisting in the establishment of an Indigenous law collection and classification system based on the Brian Deer Classification framework.

Kristan holds a BA in Political Science with a Minor in Chinese Studies, as well as a Juris Doctor degree with a Certificate in Indigenous Law, both from Dalhousie University.

Receiving this Grant will enable Kristan to continue her research and advocacy in the Indigenous information field.  The funds would be used to support her work as she continues her research and professional projects aimed at strengthening Indigenous knowledge stewardship and data in Atlantic Canada.  Ultimately, her goal is to contribute to the advancement of Indigenous-led information services that respect and uphold the principles of Indigenous knowledge stewardship.

The CAAL Indigenous Professional Development Grant, in the amount of $1,000, supports self-identifying Indigenous Peoples in the Atlantic Region who are either pursuing information management careers, or working in information management at a CAAL member library.

Congrats Kristan!