Abstract:
This kit is a starting point for librarians to use photovoice in their Indigenous initiatives. This toolkit includes a poster outlining how to use photovoice methodology for library programming or outreach and a list of resources, including recommended readings, guides on using photovoice, and examples of successful photovoice projects for community outreach. Our intention is to provide library professionals with the tools needed to create respectful initiatives that center Indigenous voices and methodologies.
Photovoice is an Indigenous research methodology that lets the participants create their own meaning and depict their own understanding of relations using photography. It can also be adapted as a library program unto itself, empowering Indigenous youths to express their individual and collective experiences that they may otherwise find difficult to vocalize. Through group dialogue and the provision of cameras to participants, photography becomes a method of documenting minority communities’ experiences. Photovoice can also act as a catalyst for creating social change within communities.
Introduction: Why Photovoice?
Photovoice is a participatory research methodology that was developed in order to address the issues of injustice and inequality within minority communities (Castleden et al., 2008). Based in participatory research, photovoice can balance power relations in research practices by valuing Indigenous forms of knowledge and equitably inviting participants into the process (Lewis & Swoboda, 2016; Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research, 2016). Unlike previous photography-based methods, photovoice is concerned with the production of knowledge through the identification of community strengths and concerns, with promoting critical dialogue through discussions on photographs, and with affecting changes in the community (Wang & Burris, 1997). Many researchers have shown photovoice to be an especially effective method of working with Indigenous communities in order to identify challenges within their communities, and to empower them to share those challenges with those who can affect policy (Carroll et al., 2018; Castleden et al., 2008; Goodman et al., 2018; Hatala et al., 2020; Lewis & Swoboda, 2018; Minthorn & Marsh, 2020; Mitchell et al., 2020; Morton et al., 2020; Tremblay et al., 2018).
Photovoice is particularly useful for Indigenous Peoples because it is a form of storytelling. Grounding research in storytelling practices is a way to connect to Indigenous communities, make the research process more accessible, and meaningfully incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Photovoice is one way for Indigenous Peoples to convey their ideas and feelings about a topic through visual storytelling (Lewis & Swoboda, 2016).
We believe that libraries can be effective facilitators of photovoice projects in partnership with Indigenous communities. Photography encourages people to create meaning out of what they see in the world around them. It requires basic photography skills that libraries can help teach. Libraries can remove barriers to technology, provide photographic instruction and access to professionals. When Indigenous photovoice participants see their works displayed in libraries, they can see themselves reflected in the library space, creating and strengthening reciprocal relationships. Photovoice also speaks to policy makers because of the way photos tangibly acknowledge the reality of issues (Community Tool Box, n.d.). A collaboration between libraries and Indigenous participants can work towards affecting change in both communities.
This kit is a starting point for librarians to use photovoice in their Indigenous initiatives. This toolkit includes a poster outlining how to use photovoice methodology for library programming or outreach and a list of resources, including recommended readings, guides on using photovoice, and examples of successful photovoice projects for community outreach. Our intention is to provide library professionals with the tools needed to create respectful initiatives that center Indigenous voices and methodologies.
A Photovoice framework
We have created a poster that outlines a framework for using photovoice for Indigenous initiatives for library programming or youth outreach. For best viewing, follow this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10efesQEuNyIY8Jyq5tqXLG7wg4alZBvS/view?usp=sharing and zoom in.
Helen Zhang:
Helen Zhang is a Chinese-Canadian woman located on Treaty 6 territory (amiskwacîwâskahikan or Edmonton). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Film Studies minor. She is an MLIS student at the University of Alberta. Helen currently works as the Education Programs Coordinator for the Art Gallery of Alberta, developing visual arts programming for children. As a lifelong lover of photography and former photo editor and photographer for The Gateway (UofA’s official student journalism society), Helen is passionate about visual storytelling and all things digital literacy. She can be reached at hbzhang@ualberta.ca.
Johnathan Bowie:
Jonathan Bowie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Multimedia Studies from the University of New Brunswick and is a current MLIS student at the University of Alberta. He is a library assistant in the government documents section of the New Brunswick Legislative Library. His work includes maintaining the electronic document repository of New Brunswick government documents, as well as legislative reference work. Located on the unceded territories of the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoquiyik Peoples in Fredericton, Jonathan sits on the Board of Trustees for the Faye Tidd Public Library and is excited about preserving culture through digital libraries and online repositories.