A digital version of this newsletter can be found here.
Update from the Board of Directors
The AMA Board of Directors would like to inform the membership of a change in our directors. Due to the recent resignation of our Chair, Andrew Morrison, the Board has approved the appointment of Heather Bidzinski (Vice-Chair) and Corser du Pont (Chair, Information and Outreach) as Acting Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively. The AMA wishes to thank Andrew Morrison for his time and dedication to the Board of Directors and to the Association for Manitoba Archives.
As the AMA Annual General Meeting approaches, we would like to encourage all members to consider volunteering their time in a committee role or on the Board of Directors. A Call for Nominations will be announced closer to the time of the AGM.
Waziyata Chankag'a (Northern Bridge) Conference
On June 17, Carmen Miedema (AMA Indigenous Relations committee co-chair) and Sarah Ramsden (AMA Indigenous Relations committee member) attended the Waziyata Chankag'a mini-conference in Clearwater, Manitoba, and co-led an archives workshop. Waziyata Chankag'a, which is Dakota and translates to "Northern Bridge," looked at the historical contributions of Dakota and Métis people living near the 49th parallel in the decades before the Boundary Commission in 1872 as well as the cross-border politics and military events they were entangled with and helped to shape. The event sought to bring together people with stories to share, people with knowledge about recording and preserving stories, and people interested in histories for educational purposes.
The conference organizers and participants are keen to continue the work, as it was acknowledged that the cooperative work of Indigenous elders, researchers, historians, and archivists is vital to the recovery and preservation of local histories that have been long overlooked. There were discussions about having a similar event in June 2024 and further assisting with community archives. Individuals interested in related updates and future events are invited to contact Sarah Ramsden at sarah.ramsden@winnipeg.ca.
We also invite you to check out the archival booklet compiled for the conference, which is being made available through Amazon, see: https://www.amazon.ca/Waziyata-Chankaga-Northern-James-Ritchie/dp/B0C52HVHD2
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Dr. Greg Bak who was made a Fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA). The Fellow award is the highest recognition granted to members for distinguished service to the Canadian archival community and the ACA. Fellows are selected based on their longstanding membership and service to the ACA and demonstrated achievement in the archival profession, which may include leadership in the field, scholarship, and other outstanding contributions that have a cumulative impact. For more information on Dr. Bak’s longstanding and distinguished service, please visit the ACA website https://archivists.ca/2023-ACA-Awards.
Congratulations to the Association of Manitoba Archives’ New Home for the City of Winnipeg Archives Committee for receiving the ACA Larry Dohey Award for their advocacy on behalf of the City of Winnipeg Archives. Named in honor of Larry Dohey, longtime director of programming and public engagement of the Rooms, the Award recognizes Advocacy and Outreach work that is particularly impactful and has raised public consciousness of the value of archives. The group was led by Dr. Tom Nesmith and included Dr. Greg Bak, Dr. Shelley Sweeney, Michel Lagace, Jim Blanchard, Carmen Miedema, Mary Horodyski, Corser du Pont, Sabrina Janke, and Katie Lynch.
Archives in the News
The University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections and the City of Winnipeg Archives had contributions in this CTV article about the former Winnipeg City Hall clock that was relocated to Portage Place Mall: “Is time running out for Winnipeg's 120-year-old clock?” by Danton Unger, CTVNews.ca, July 6, 2023) https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/is-time-running-out-for-winnipeg-s-120-year-old-clock-1.6469822
Advisory Services
The Information & Outreach is continuing to respond to advisory services requests, and then referring requests to appropriate Board member specialists. If you are an AMA member institution with questions about archiving, please contact advocacy@mbarchives.ca
Call for Volunteers
We are always looking for members to join our committees. Volunteering with the AMA is an excellent way to network with archivists, build skills, and shape the future of archives in Manitoba. If you are interested, please contact the Chair, or a committee chair, at one of the email addresses listed on this page https://mbarchives.ca/sys/website/?pageId=7742
News for the newsletter?
Does your archive have a new grant or a new hire? Or do you have a collection you want to promote? Send your news to ama1@mts.net and we will include it in an upcoming newsletter.
Painting in the Park, 1959
City of Winnipeg Archives, Parks and Recreation Dept., Item i04629
https://winnipeginfocus.winnipeg.ca/i04629
