Historical Reminiscents

Who needs a distraction? I do. I've been spending a lot of time reading recently. These days, reading is one of the few things that can help push my anxiety to the side and keep my mind busy. In today's episode I share what I've been reading recently and recommend some mind occupying reads. Mentioned in this episode: -Claire Hunter, Threads of Life - Allison H. Fischer-Olson, Claire Perrott' s "The ONWARD Project and Native Voices Interventions in Biased 1930s Archival Collections" -Jon D. Daehnke, . "A Heritage of Reciprocity: Canoe Revitalization, Cultural Resilience, and the Power of Protocol." -Sue Ferentinos, Ways of Interpreting Queer Pasts -Uncanny Magazine

In today's episode I reflect on the work that goes into organizing blog theme weeks or thematic digital series. I talk about my experiences pulling together theme weeks and provide a roadmap for those interested in organizing one. Mentioned in this episode: -Active History Material Culture Theme Week -Edited with Andrea Eidinger, Beyond the Lecture and the Beyond the Lecture ebook -Edited with Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan and Nicole Belolan Archives Week on History@Work -Edited with Carly Ciufo, Museums Theme Week on Active History -Archives Theme Week on Active History

In today's episode I'm talking about digitization of VHS tapes, digital preservation, and my recent trials and tribulations of using VCRs. I chat about the labour intensive work behind digitization and the challenges of video preservation.  Mentioned in this episode: -Samantha Thompson, "Why Don't Archivists Digitize Everything?" -National Archives, Video Guidance: Playback and Digitization of Materials"

In today's episode I'm thinking about making space for new opportunities by letting go of old ones. I discuss balancing commitments, knowing when it is time to move on, and changing interests.  Mentioned in this episode: -Thinking Rock Community Arts -Erin Wunker, "Surthrival" on the Hook & Eye blog

I've been working at Algoma University, in the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, since 2010. That's a decade. In today's episode I'm talking about means to stay at one institution for a long period of time and how to grow within local opportunities.  Mentioned in this episode: -Erin White, "What It Means to Stay"

How does food interest with your understanding of the past? In today's episode I'm talking about food in the archives, historical recipes, and teaching history through food. I'll also be talking about some of my favourite historical cookbook quirks. Mentioned in this episode: -Sophie Hicks, Active History posts on using food as historical narrative -Madison Bifano, The Horrors of Salmon Pudding - McGill Library Rare Books and Special Collections Cookbooks on the Internet Archive

New year, new podcast episode. I'm starting 2020 by talking about vicarious trauma in the archives and the impact of working with traumatic records on archival staff. I discuss emotional labour and strategies for coping with vicarious trauma in the archives.  Mentioned in this episode: -Katie Sloan, Jennifer Vanderluit, and Jennifer Douglas "Not 'Just My Problem to Handle': Emerging Themes on Secondary Trauma and Archivists" -Julia Holland, Danielle Robichaud, Anna St.Onge, "It's nothing, I'm fine. Acknowledging Emotion and Affect in Archival Practice."

For the last episode of 2019 I'm doing some reflecting, celebrating, and dreaming. I'm talking about some inspirational reads and folks who gave me strength in 2019. I also think a bit about what the upcoming year holds. Mentioned in this episode: -OE Fellows Program -Amazing people: Andrea Eidinger, Skylee-Storm Hogan -Inspiring Authors and Activists: Gwen Benaway, Alicia Elliott -Podcast joy: Secret Feminist Agenda, Organizing Ideas Podcast

In today's episode I'm focusing on resilience. Resilience can be beautiful. It can be empowering. But it can also be co-opted and used as a systemic tool. Today I'm reflecting on how resilience is often used as a way to encourage productivity and shame those who don't overcome barriers. Can resilience be a bad thing?  Mentioned in this episode: -Katie Aubrecht, "The New Vocabulary of Resilience and the Governance of University Student Life" -How 'Resilience Is Misunderstood When Talking About Racism Rapid Reads: -CARL Digital Preservation Working Group, Final Report of the Survey on Digital Preservation Capacity and Needs at Canadian Memory Institutions, 2017-2018.

In today's episode I'm talking about the practice of radical vulnerability in professional spaces. I discuss the basics of radical vulnerability, provide examples of what this looks like, and reflect on spaces for safe vulnerability. Mentioned in this episode: -Karina Haglen on Twitter, also check out their awesome zines. -Alaina Leary, "Here's Why You Need to Practice Radical Vulnerability Online" Rapid Reads: -Chelsea Miller, From Me Too to systemic cultural change: a public historian's call to action

In today's episode I'm talking about the work that goes into writing conference presentation proposals and journal article proposals. I dive into my experiences writing proposals and talk about best practices. Mentioned in this episode: -Jo Van Every, Why Writing an abstract is so hard -Catherine Baker, How To Write A Conference Abstract: A Five Part Plan for Pitching Your Research At Almost Anything Rapid Reads: -Organizing Ideas podcast by Allison Jones and Karen Ng.

In today's episode I'm talking about Ignite presentations, lightening talks, and Pecha Kucha presentations. How do you prep for these fast paced presentations? I also chat about where these short presentation formats fit within the conference landscape. Mentioned in this episode: -The Secret Underground World of Lego Ignite Talk -Fighting Dirty in Scrabble Ignite Talk -About Ignite Talks Rapid Reads: -"Home Isn't Home" by Makayla Webkamigad

In honour of Orange Shirt Day today's episode is dedicated to Residential School Survivors all across the land and to those who didn't return home from their time at Residential School. In today's episode I discuss the TRC's Calls to Action and their relationship to archival practice.

In this episode I discuss the recent conclusion of the "Healing and Education Through Digital Access" project undertaken by the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. I talk about community engagement, how not all information wants to be free, and online access. I would love to hear about your experiences working with community to undertake a digitization project. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -Press release for the Digitized Shingwauk Letter Books -Archival listing of Letter Books -OCAP Principals Tara Robertson, "Not All Information Wants to be Free: The Case Study of On Our Backs" A huge thank you to my colleague Jenna Lemay who did much of the heavy lifting on this project and who was responsible for developing the metadata for the Letter Books.

Recently I've had the opportunity to virtually participate in a couple of roundtables and to provide virtual lectures. In this episode I reflect on the how virtual lectures work, tech challenges, and distance engagement. I also discuss the real costs and privilege of academic travel. I would love to hear about your experience giving or listening to a virtual lecture. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -2020 Visions for Environmental History series -Jaymie Heilman, "Grounded: Academic Flying in the Time of Climate Emergency" -CFP for Canadian Historical Association 2020 Annual Meeting Rapid Reads: - Katherine Roscoe, "Is Digital Crime History Too White? Representation in Australian Archives"

In this episode I reflect on the first few months of my eCampus Ontario Open Education Fellows appointment. I talk about the open community, Canadian history and open, and the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and open educational resources. I would love to hear about your experiences with open education and open practice. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -Whose Voices Get To Be Heard? A Reflection on History and Open Education -Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Culture

In this episode I talk about recovering from conferences. How do you process all that information you learned? How do you get back into the swing of work? And how do you find time to rest? I would love to hear about what your conference follow-up looks like and how you give yourself space to recover from a conference. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -Katie Linder, Tips Before You Travel Rapid Reads: -Pam Palmater, Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Universities and Colleges

In this episode I talk about the politics of citation and developing a more pro-active and critical approach to thinking about citations. I would love to hear about your citation practices and how you approach citation in the classroom and in your scholarship. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -Hannah McGregor, Secret Feminist Agenda, Citing Your Sources -Miyra Homan's pre-submission checklist - Jane’s gender balance checker -Victor Ray, "The Racial Politics of Citation" -Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, Shine Theory

In this episode I’m talking my recent experience creating the Beyond the Lecture Open Educational Resource (OER) alongside my fantastic collaborator Andrea Eidinger. I discuss the work that went into this edited ebook, decisions about open access, and broader OER work happening in Canada history. I would love to hear about your experiences using or creating OER. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -Ten Facts About Open Educational Resources -Confronting Canadian Migration History -Canada History Open Textbook -Open History Seminar: Canadian History Rapid Reads: -Sharon Leon, "Getting Tenure in Digital and Public History, as a Non-Man" -Secret Feminist Agenda, Episode 3.26 Master of Text with Ames Hawkins

In this episode I'm talking about conference and event codes of conduct, what they should include, what a good code looks like and why they are important. I would love to hear about your experiences writing, using, or enforcing a code of conduct. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter. Mentioned in this episode: -NCPH Events Code of Conduct -"Your Science Conference Should Have a Code of Conduct" -Kelly J. Baker, "Should Academic Conferences Have Codes of Conduct?" Rapid Reads: -Emily Lonie, "To Charge or Not to Charge: Use Fees in Archives"