Promising Practices from the Indigenous Reads Book Club

Since its inception, the Indigenous Reads Book Club has created a space for learning and collaboration, fostering a community of care and connection through shared engagement with Indigenous literature. This initiative has provided faculty, staff, and students, with an accessible and meaningful way to explore Indigenous perspectives, histories, and contemporary realities through books.

By centering Indigenous stories, the book club has become more than a reading group, it is a catalyst for deeper reflection, dialogue, and continued engagement. Attendees have carried their learning forward, participating in other events and initiatives, contributing to broader institutional change, and strengthening their commitments to Indigenous Initiatives on and off campus.

This session will explore:

How the book club has served as a gateway to learning and action, leading to ongoing participation in Indigenous-focused initiatives.

The role of collaborative discussion in fostering meaningful change, as attendees bring their reflections into their professional and personal spheres.

The importance of creating intentional spaces for learning and connection

Through an interactive discussion, session participants will reflect on the impact of book clubs as tools for learning, engagement, and community-building.

Attendees will also be invited to share ideas on sustaining and expanding such initiatives to foster a culture of continuous learning.

Facilitators

• Jessica Bayer, Educational Consultant for Indigenous Initiatives, CTL, UBCO
• Christian Isbister, Indigenous Initiatives Librarian, Library, UBCO
• Naim Cardinal, Educational Facilitator, Indigenous Programs and Services, UBCO