Gene Joseph facts for kids

Gene Anne Joseph is an important Wet'suwet'en Nadleh'dena First Nations librarian. She comes from Hagwilget, British Columbia. She helped start the Xwi7xwa Library at the University of British Columbia. She was also the very first librarian in British Columbia who was of First Nations descent. In 2018, she received a special honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Vancouver Island University. The British Columbia Library Association and other groups even created a scholarship in her name.

Her Education Journey

Gene Anne Joseph started her college studies in 1972 at Langara College. At that time, she was one of the only First Nations students there. Later, she went to the University of British Columbia. There, she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in library science.

Her Career and Impact

Joseph began her professional work at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Resource Centre. She worked there for three years. After that, she went back to school to get her master's degree.

She then worked at the Indian Education Resource Centre. This center was created to organize important collections of information. When this center became the Xwi7xwa Library, Gene Anne Joseph became its first librarian.

Changing How Libraries Work

Gene Anne Joseph cared deeply about how First Nations people and their knowledge were shown in libraries. She spent her career working to fix this. She created new ways to organize books and information. This helped correct misunderstandings often found in standard library systems.

Between 1978 and 1980, she changed the Brian Deer classification system for the Xwi7xwa Library. Joseph knew that how materials were organized was key to the library's culture. Using an Indigenous classification system was very important to Xwi7xwa's goals.

Sharing Knowledge and Rights

In 1992, she published a guide called Sharing the knowledge: a First Nations resource guide. This book shares information about First Nations culture and history. It also talks about issues First Nations people face. And it looks at ways to gain recognition for aboriginal rights.

Joseph also helped create special libraries for First Nations. These libraries supported groups seeking recognition of aboriginal title. She built the legal research library for the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en First Nations. This was to help with a big court case called Delgamuukw et al v. the Queen et al.

For this case, she organized and made oral histories available. She used new computer software and databases for this. Joseph adapted these systems to handle oral history documents. Using oral histories in such a case was a new and important step. She also helped prepare detailed maps of traditional land use.

Joseph also worked for the Haida on their aboriginal title case. She advises and helps with research for the Haida Aboriginal Title Case at White Raven Law. From 2002 to 2006, she also worked with EAGLE. This group stands for Environmental Aboriginal Guardianship through Law and Education.

Mentoring Future Librarians

Gene Anne Joseph has been a guide for many Indigenous librarians in Canada. She has especially helped those connected to the University of British Columbia's School of Information Studies. She also speaks at events, like the International Indigenous Librarians' Forum. Joseph has worked on a committee to create a Library Technician Program for First Nations students. This program is at the University College of the Fraser Valley.

Her Publications

• Joseph, Gene. Sharing the knowledge: a First Nations resource guide. Vancouver: Legal Services Society, 1992.
• Burns, Kathleen, Doyle, Ann, Joseph, Gene, & Krebs, Allison. (2009). Indigenous librarianship. In M. J. Bates, & M.N. Maack (Eds.), Encyclopedia of library and information sciences (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.
• Joseph, Gene and Kim Lawson. 2003. "First Nations and British Columbia Public Libraries." Feliciter. 49(5): 245-247.