"You get people sitting down, having some tea, make them feel comfortable, make them feel safe. That's where community development happens. An Elder once told me you have to be willing to have 10, 000 cups of tea when you are in community, if you want to work with people."
-Nancy Cooper on community development and the "University of Winnie Ashkewe":
GUEST INSTRUCTOR and AUTHOR: Nancy Cooper is Ojibway from the Rama First Nation. She is the First Nation Consultant for the Ontario Library Service, and has worked for several years supporting community development through literacy initiatives. She also writes for adults and children, and has recently published E Meshkwadooniged Mitig/The Trading Tree, illustrated by Heather Charles (Prince’s Trust Canada, 2019) which has been recognized as a First Nations Community Reads Nominee 2020/2021.
REQUIRED (selected by Nancy Cooper)
First Nations Public Library Strategic Plan Liaison Committee. 2004. Our Way Forward: A Strategic Plan for Ontario First Nations Public Libraries. Sudbury, ON: Ontario Library Service North.
History of First Nations Public Libraries in Ontario - Timeline. 2020. Ontario Library Service.
Ontario First Nation Public Library Establishment Dates - Timeline. 2020. Ontario Library Service.
Ontario Library Service - Organizational Web. 2020. Ontario Library Service.
Ontario First Nation Public Libraries - Needs Assessment. 2017.
(see the Ontario Library Service First Nations Library Services page for more)