About
The University Library acknowledges some descriptions of materials in our collections include racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, ableist and other discriminatory language. These materials and descriptions cause ongoing harm to people and communities who have been excluded and made vulnerable by the dominant and continuing colonial structures embedded in our institutions.
We commit to the review and repair of our descriptions to make them accessible and inclusive, without erasing history or important original context.
Redescription project
Descriptions have been created over many years, often transcribing language of the creators or previous owners of the records, such as annotations on photographs. Some digital project sites have been created in collaboration with other heritage institutions.
Describing items always involves interpretation and cannot be neutral or objective. Our goal is to provide accurate and useful representation of the materials in our collections, but our work is inevitably influenced by our own worldview, values, life experience, education, interests and identity.
A version of the following short statement and link to this page is being added to all University Library websites where you may encounter harmful language or content.
This is an ongoing project and you can follow our progress on this page.
Project phases
- Identify: projects that have been identified as containing harmful language and/or items
- Prepare: further review underway to determine appropriate interventions with detailed, project-specific assessment of needed changes
- Repair: active redescription, adding context, and removing items as necessary
- Ongoing care: considerable work to repair the collection has been done but will be revisited as necessary
Current progress
Support
If you need support after encountering harmful content, resources include:
- Canadian Mental Health Association provides 24/7 support if your or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns.
- HealthLine 8-1-1 is a confidential, 24-hour health and mental health and addictions advice, education and support telephone line available to the people of Saskatchewan. Calling 8-1-1 will also connect you to non-emergency health services in other Canadian jurisdictions.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline available to all Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.
- It Gets Better Canada national and provincial help resources for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
- Talking Stick Indigenous peer support and community safety app. 24/7 one-on-one anonymous chat with Indigenous peer advocates.
USask local resources
- Student Wellness Centre offers physical and mental health care to USask students and their dependents.
- Smudging and Ceremonies policy establishes all University of Saskatchewan campuses, inclusive of student residences, as smudge and ceremony safe spaces.