Welcome To The Decolonial Little Library
Our little white book box in Hamilton, ON has caught the good hearts and good minds of many in our neighbourhood and we couldn't be more thrilled.
WE'RE AN INDIGENOUS FAMILY PUTTING A DECOLONIAL LENS ON THE FREE LITTLE LIBRARY GAME.
What started as a little idea while on a walk with our son, our Decolonial Little Library, has turned into a part-time, part-time job. We’re not complaining; we’re super grateful to be able to provide Indigenous-authored books to our neighbours! We’re passionate readers in our home, and we love books. We thought sharing impactful Indigenous stories would bring us closer to whatever reconciliation might become for our family, neighbours, and city.
The uptake in the project blew us away; I think we assumed this would be a passive hobby that we kept up with and paid attention to in the background of our lives. This was not the case. We source books, curate lists, keep track of borrowed books, and interact with our neighbours and have conversations about the initiative and the books themselves.
Excitingly, we’ve had a couple of monetary donations, book donations and plenty of kind suggestions on sustaining and growing this project.
Right now, the key to the project is for folks who borrow books to bring them back to the library. That way, we can continue to provide our collection of nearly 70 titles to the readers who come by the library.
WHO WE ARE
Madeline Wilson Shaw is a Haudenosaunee creative, recovering political staffer, former music industry hustler and current Director of Communications for the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. But above all, Ryan’s best friend and fearless leader to her many sons.
Ryan McMahon is an Anishinaabe creative who jokes, talks, yells, and writes for a living. He’s an award-winning writer, a critically acclaimed journalist, a highly sought-after keynote speaker and presenter, and one of the best Indigenous comedians working today.
Sam is an 18-month-old who runs Homewood Avenue between Locke and Dundurn. Watch your toes when he’s on his tricycle; he’s rude about sharing the sidewalk.
*missing from this photo are our other four wonderful children.
**also missing from this photo is Ruford, the giant black and white cat that hangs out in front of the house and harasses people for food and rubs.
You can read more about Ryan’s work in this summer’s edition of Hamilton Magazine.
HOW THE DECOLONIAL LITTLE LIBRARY WORKS
WE CURATE AND PROVIDE THE BOOKS.
YOU BORROW THE BOOK(s).
YOU READ THE BOOK(s).
YOU KINDLY RETURN THE BOOK(s).
NO, SERIOUSLY, KINDLY RETURN THE BOOK(s)!
SOMEONE ELSE READS THE BOOK(s).
THEY RETURN THE BOOK(s).
WE DO THIS FOREVER (because you’ve returned your books).
IN THE FUTURE
We have talked about how the project might evolve going forward, and we have a few ideas we’re excited about. We’ve talked about merch, live events, and a pop-up shop to help us maintain the little library.
But for now.
We’re going to write here on Substack.
You’ll receive email updates directly to your inbox by joining the newsletter. We intend to interview authors, poets, and other works that we feature in the library.
We’ll update you on book drops, future projects, and giveaways.
You’ll hear from us often through September as we gear up to commemorate National Truth and Reconciliation Day here in Canada on September 30, 2023.
We’re going to work with book publishers.
We’re in the process of striking partnerships with book publishers who’d like to donate books to the Decolonial Little Library. All of the publishers we’ve spoken with have been excited to help sustain the library through their generous donations.
We’re building local partnerships with bookstores.
We aren’t exactly sure what this will look like, but, a few small independent book sellers have asked about how they can help. Soon, we’ll have stickers and small handbills available at bookstores for people to learn more about the project, spreading the word with our grassroots neighbours is a huge help to us.
We’re considering producing live events.
There is a massive knowledge gap in Canada when it comes to decolonization, Canada’s sordid history as it relates to the historical and contemporary challenges Indigenous communities face today, as well as what the future looks like in Indigenous communities as Indigenous communities themselves work to bring about change in their homelands. We aim to help bridge the gap with engaging, challenging, and forward-looking live events, speakers, author chats, and book meet-ups that allow people to share space, time, and ideas to contribute positively to reconciliation in Hamilton and beyond.
Just wondering if one could have oh say two grocery bags of books sent for the Decolonial Library. Would they be accepted? All books that were used in a Indigenous Studies degree. So probably helpful since I was a student at FNUC.