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Finding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Data in Canada and Internationally

Kevin Manuel (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Alexandra Cooper (Queen's University)

Rosa Orlandini (York University)

DLI National Training

November 21, 2023

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About the presenters

Kevin Manuel, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University), Toronto, Canada. Data Librarian

Alexandra Cooper, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. Data Services Coordinator

Rosa Orlandini, York University, Toronto, Canada. Data Services Librarian.

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Positionality statement

It is important to directly and explicitly address the positionality of the presenters. For this session, the presenters come from divergent backgrounds and experiences although none are Indigenous or racialized. Even though, all of the authors have a social science background and have had opportunities to work with and learn from Indigenous and racialized communities and researchers, they all acknowledge that they come to their research, professional practices, and lived experience from a place of privilege.

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Presenters forthcoming book chapter

ACRL edited volume: Data culture in academic libraries: A practical guide to building communities, partnerships, and collaborations

Aims to help readers foster an institutional culture that favors the curation, creation, and wider use of datasets focusing on implications for the future of academic libraries as agents for change in facilitating data literacy through community engagement.

Source: Flickr

Chapter: “Connecting to Communities: Data Research Guide Partnerships as Agents of Change”

Anticipated publication date of Winter 2024

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Beginnings for DEI Data Projects

DLI National Training, November 2021 presentation

Not always invisible: finding the data about marginalized and underrepresented populations in Canada

By Jeremy Buhler (UBC) and Kevin Manuel (TMU)

Based on DEI data workshops started by Kevin in 2019 for TMU library staff and then modified for UBC Libraries staff by Jeremy in 2020

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Scholars Portal Guide

Data on Racialized and Indigenous Populations in Canada

Inspired by presentation by Kevin and Jeremy in addition to DEI related injustices at the time
Created in 2021/22 by a team of data specialists from the Ontario Data Community
Curated list of Canadian datasets that include race and ethnicity variables
Census of Canada variables related to ethnic, racial and indigenous variables
This is a living document so if there is content that should be added, let us know

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What is IASSIST?

IASSIST (International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology) is an international organization of professionals working with information technology and data services to support research and teaching. Advocates for responsible data management and use, to build a broader community surrounding research data, and encourage the development of data professionals.

About 400 members from around the world
Includes Information specialists, Data librarians, Reference librarians, Technology professionals, Data archivists
Activities include: Annual conference, Active discussion list, Standing committees, Interest groups, Professional Development webinars
Conference in Halifax, NS, May 28 -31, 2024

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IASSIST Conference 2023

DEI stream of presentations for first time

Topics included:

Accessibility, Anti-Racism; Equality, Equity and Inclusivity; Indigenous peoples; LGBTQ+; Women’s rights

Today’s presenters session:

Indigenous Data Matters: Finding Data for First Nations, Inuk and Metis Peoples in Canada

First meeting of DEI Data Interest Group

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IASSIST Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Data Resources Interest Group

Aims and goals

Provide resources and education to better recognize, acknowledge and combat inherent biases in data
Include, but not limited to, forms of discrimination based on immigration, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, class, disability and intersectionality of these
Ensure a global scope

Website - https://iassistdata.org/community/antiracism-resources/

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IASSIST DEI-IG

Current topic areas:

Anti-racism
Accessibility and Inclusion
LGBTQ+
Indigenous Data
Gender Data Gap

The members of the IG acknowledge that DEI may not be the best term for the group but as an international team it was the name that selected based on a variety of options that are currently used

Source: Flickr

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Anti-Racism Resources Guides

Guide to finding data about racism and ethnic bias

Intended to find:

primary and secondary data and datasets documenting racism, and discrimination based on indigenous, national, and cultural or ethnic origins
tools, articles, and rubrics for building anti-racism into the process of working with data across the data-research lifecycle