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Decolonizing my Library (04 of 15)

Libraries as the New Frontlines of Knowledge

Engaging with Indigenous Knowledge Systems

This post is part of a series that reviews decolonialism in libraries, archives and other similar spaces, from the perspective of the Global South and the margins, and how colonialism affects collections, staffing, services, activities, policies, and results. Check all the posts in this section's index.

Introduction

Indigenous knowledge systems have been thriving for thousands of years, passed down through generations, evolving alongside the land, cultures, and communities they belong to. These knowledge systems encompass not only practical knowledge of ecosystems, medicine, and agriculture but also deep philosophical understandings of the world, spirituality, and the human connection to the earth. Yet, for centuries, these knowledge systems have been marginalized, erased, or distorted by colonial forces, including European settler colonialism, missionary practices, and the imposition of Western education and science.

Today, as the world increasingly confronts the legacy of colonialism, libraries find themselves at the forefront of an urgent decolonial mission: to recognize, respect, and preserve Indigenous knowledge systems. This task is not just about integrating Indigenous perspectives into library collections but about fundamentally rethinking the role of libraries as agents of cultural resistance, revitalization, and transformation.

By embracing Indigenous knowledge as a legitimate and essential form of wisdom, libraries can help rebuild relationships that were severed by colonial histories, contributing to the ongoing process of healing and sovereignty. The act of decolonizing library collections is not just an intellectual pursuit — it is a political and cultural act of solidarity, one that requires a shift in how we understand knowledge and whose knowledge is valued in our institutions.

The Legacy of Colonialism on Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Colonial powers sought to subjugate Indigenous peoples not only through violence and dispossession but also through intellectual domination. The destruction of oral traditions, the conversion of sacred practices into "primitive" rituals, and the suppression of Indigenous languages were all deliberate efforts to erase Indigenous knowledge. As Indigenous peoples were subjected to European legal, economic, and educational systems, their epistemologies were rendered invisible or framed as inferior.

This history continues to shape the way we interact with Indigenous knowledge today. In many cases, Western academic and library systems still hold the assumption that Indigenous knowledge is primitive, unscientific, or unreliable. And while some efforts have been made to recover and integrate Indigenous knowledge into mainstream systems, these efforts are often fraught with challenges, as the dominant Western framework remains in place.

As scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith explains in Decolonizing Methodologies, for Indigenous peoples, the process of knowledge recovery is one of cultural survival. The work of decolonization is inextricably tied to the act of recovering our own histories, languages, and practices. This recovery is not merely academic — it is deeply rooted in cultural resurgence and political sovereignty. Libraries, as institutions that shape how knowledge is collected, classified, and disseminated, must grapple with the history and continuing impact of colonialism on Indigenous knowledge systems.

Why Libraries Must Engage with Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Libraries have a unique position in society. They are not just repositories of books and data — they are spaces that help define and shape collective memory. As such, libraries must be proactive in engaging with Indigenous knowledge systems, not simply as objects to be studied or archived, but as living, evolving bodies of knowledge that are integral to our collective understanding of the world. This engagement is vital for several reasons:

• Respecting Indigenous Sovereignty and Self-Determination: Engaging with Indigenous knowledge means recognizing the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples over their intellectual and cultural property. For too long, libraries have treated Indigenous knowledge as an academic resource to be extracted, classified, and stored in ways that serve colonial interests. Decolonizing this practice requires libraries to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities, respecting their control over their knowledge and intellectual traditions. This can take the form of repatriating cultural materials, co-curating collections with Indigenous communities, and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives that focus on the preservation and revitalization of knowledge systems.
• Counteracting Epistemic Injustice: Indigenous knowledge systems are often ignored or dismissed in academic and professional settings. This is a form of epistemic injustice, where certain ways of knowing are systematically excluded, silenced, or invalidated. Libraries play a crucial role in challenging this injustice by ensuring that Indigenous knowledge is treated with the same respect as Western knowledge systems. One concrete way to do this is by adopting inclusive cataloging practices that recognize Indigenous languages, concepts, and frameworks. For example, a library might work with Indigenous communities to develop culturally appropriate subject headings, or ensure that Indigenous authors and scholars are represented in their collections. Libraries should also consider how they classify and organize materials, ensuring that Indigenous knowledge is not relegated to the margins but placed at the center of knowledge production and dissemination.
• Revitalizing Indigenous Languages and Oral Traditions: A key component of Indigenous knowledge systems is language. Indigenous languages are deeply tied to worldview and knowledge transmission, and their revitalization is a vital part of the broader movement toward cultural sovereignty. Libraries must not only collect materials in Indigenous languages but also actively support language revitalization efforts through resources such as language learning programs, digital archives, and community events. In this way, libraries can become hubs for the revitalization of oral traditions, ensuring that stories, teachings, and histories that have been passed down through generations are preserved and shared in ways that honor their origins. The challenge is to move beyond the written word, recognizing the value of oral knowledge and non-textual forms of expression, such as songs, performances, and rituals.
• Facilitating Community Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Libraries have long been seen as neutral spaces for research and education. However, when it comes to Indigenous knowledge, neutrality must give way to collaboration. Engaging with Indigenous knowledge systems requires a commitment to deep, respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities. Libraries must be places where Indigenous people can share their knowledge on their own terms — whether through community archives, oral histories, or workshops. This engagement is not a one-time event or a token gesture — it must be an ongoing process of collaboration, one that builds trust, shared understanding, and mutual respect. Librarians can serve as facilitators, helping to create space for knowledge exchange, while also learning from Indigenous perspectives and wisdom.

Libraries as Agents of Transformation

Libraries can play a transformative role in the decolonial movement, but only if they actively engage with Indigenous knowledge systems and adopt practices that reflect a commitment to decolonization. This means shifting away from a model of knowledge that prioritizes Western frameworks and instead embracing a pluralistic, inclusive approach that values the full spectrum of human wisdom.

In doing so, libraries do not just preserve knowledge — they help to reframe the narratives that have shaped our collective past. By embracing Indigenous knowledge as a living, evolving practice, libraries can contribute to the ongoing process of healing, rebuilding, and decolonizing.

As author and activist Leanne Betasamosake Simpson says in As We Have Always Done, decolonization is not a metaphor: it is a way of life, a way of being in the world, a reawakening to the land, to the ancestors, to the ceremonies, to the stories, to the wisdom that has been here since time immemorial. Libraries have the power to help awaken this wisdom, to bring it into the present, and to ensure that it is not lost for future generations.

Conclusion

As libraries stand at the crossroads of cultural transformation, the imperative to engage deeply with Indigenous knowledge systems has never been clearer. The decolonial journey is not a passing trend — it is an essential and ongoing process of reimagining the role of libraries in a world where historical power dynamics continue to shape our understanding of knowledge. By actively engaging with Indigenous knowledge, libraries are not only preserving and protecting cultural heritage but also contributing to the resurgence of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

However, the task is not an easy one. It requires libraries to rethink deeply ingrained practices, such as collection development, cataloging, and community engagement. It asks librarians to be humble, to learn from Indigenous communities, and to center Indigenous voices in the spaces we have long dominated. This transformation is not simply about inclusion — it is about reconfiguring the very foundations of how knowledge is curated and disseminated. Libraries must become places where Indigenous epistemologies are respected and given space to flourish, rather than simply being "added on" to existing collections.

In this era of decolonial awakening, libraries have a critical role to play as the new frontlines of knowledge. The path to decolonization requires effort, humility, and collaboration, but it also promises a richer, more diverse intellectual landscape where all knowledge is honored equally. As libraries shift toward these principles, they not only dismantle the colonial systems that have historically oppressed Indigenous knowledge — they also lay the groundwork for a truly inclusive future where knowledge is shared, celebrated, and co-created across cultures and communities.

Libraries have the power to redefine the world of knowledge, and in doing so, they can become powerful sites of cultural resurgence, healing, and empowerment for Indigenous communities and the global society alike.

References

About this post

Text: Edgardo Civallero.
Publication date: 17.12.2024.
Picture: "Native Knowledge: What Ecologists Are Learning from Indigenous People", by Luisa Rivera. In Yale Environment 360 [Link].