Language is essential to our communication as humans. Indigenous languages around the world, but particularly in Canada, are at danger of being lost. Public libraries can help counter this potential loss of language by integrating Indigenous children’s books in their children’s sections, particularly in the original Indigenous language. This toolkit seeks to provide background to the risk of Indigenous language loss, how public libraries can integrate Indigenous children’s literature in their children’s departments to help prevent language loss, and information on some Indigenous children’s books that are currently available in their original Indigenous language.
H. Isabelle Agnew (she/her or they/them) holds a Bachelor in English Language and Literature (Honours) from St. Thomas University and is currently completing her Master in Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. She lives in Rusagonis, New Brunswick, on the Traditional and unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq and Peskotomuhkati Peoples, where she works as the Communications Officer for the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers. Isabelle’s professional interests are in free and equitable access to information in public library spaces, as well as social work in the library.