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Spirit of Reconciliation Award

The Spirit of Reconciliation Award supports meaningful relationship-building between First Nation public librarians and librarians from across the broader library sector. Coordinated by the OLA Indigenous Advisory Council, the award creates opportunities for connection, mutual learning, and lasting relationships across the library sector.

Each year, up to four First Nation public librarians are sponsored to attend the annual OLA Super Conference. This award covers conference registration, travel, and hotel accommodation. 

At Super Conference, each recipient is paired with an experienced attendee who serves as a Spirit of Reconciliation Partner. Partners help recipients navigate the conference, make professional connections, and engage with the broader library community. In return, the First Nation public librarian helps the Spirit of Reconciliation Partner develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous matters as they relate their Nation and professional experience. The Spirit of Reconciliation Award aims to foster connections that extend beyond Super Conference. Partners are encouraged to continue learning from one another and building relationships through activities such as mutual library visits and tours, joint book clubs, and quarterly virtual meetings.

Thank you to the Administrators of Medium-sized Public Libraries of Ontario (AMPLO) for supporting this award.

Donor Benefits

Supporting the Spirit of Reconciliation Award contributes to:

  1. Reducing financial barriers to OLA Super Conference attendance for First Nation public librarians.
  2. Supporting and fostering librarianship in First Nation and Indigenous communities.
  3. Creating opportunities for First Nation public librarians and library professionals from across the broader sector to build lasting, reciprocal relationships.
  4. Contributing to ongoing reconciliation within the library sector by creating space for deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives, experiences, and professional knowledge, and encouraging meaningful relationships that extend beyond the conference.

Process

Applications for the Spirit of Reconciliation Award open each fall for the following year’s OLA Super Conference. The OLA Indigenous Advisory Council is responsible for selecting award recipients and matching them with Spirit of Reconciliation Partners.

Criteria for applying for funding

  1. Must be a First Nation Public Library (FNPL) member.
  2. Not required to be a member of OLA, but all FNPLs do have access to free membership.
  3. Priority will be given to first-time Super Conference attendees, but past attendees and previous Spirit of Reconciliation Award recipients are welcome to apply.

Indigenous librarians and library workers who are not employed at a First Nation Public Library on-reserve may be eligible for other funding opportunities to attend Super Conference, such as the International Indigenous Library Forum Fund and Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Bursary.