Assignment 1: Evaluation of a Reference Work

Part 1

Evaluative Review of: Les Amerindiens by Virginia Luling

This type of resource is significant to our library collection in that it provides a compilation of facts and information on North American indigenous peoples, their culture, early ways of life, and innovations. The changes to curriculum in British Columbia have greatly increased the importance and need for authentic, accurate, and appropriate sources of information for students to access. This type of resource is valuable to both students and educators as it provides topical information for accessible researching and broader lessons planning as well.

I have created an evaluative template combining aspects of A. M. Riedling’s guide to evaluation, the Surrey Schools Teacher-Librarian Handbook, and FNESC Authentic Resource Evaluation Guide.  I chose these sources to ensure that my evaluation of the existing source and the potential new source would be consistent with Surrey District’s standards, as well as updating and giving place to new systems of value and evaluation for Indigenous resources. The 4-point scale is taken from the FNESC document.

	* * * * Unparalleled	* * * Very Good	* * Fair	* Poor	N/A
Content Scope What is the purpose? Who is the audience? How current is it? Is it effective? (Riedling, 22)				X
Accuracy / Authority / Bias Who provided the information? Why? Does the author or contributor? have biases? Are the facts reliable? (Riedling, 22)				X
Accessibility / Diversity “How well the item meets the needs of linguistically, culturally, and intellectually varied learners...” Is there information from different cultural perspectives? (Riedling, 23)			X
Curricular Support “Includes materials to enrich and support the curriculum” (TL Handbook, 8)				X
Presentation / Physical Makeup “Creative...readable.... Good graphics...” (FNESC, 132-133)			X
Cultural portrayals “consistent with First People’s attitudes and values” (FNESC, 134)				X
Sensitivity Avoidance of stereotypes / prejudices (FNESC, 134)				X

Relevancy:

This book has become irrelevant for my school library collection. The focus for our curriculum is on First Peoples of British Columbia and Canada as a foundation then looking beyond to other groups worldwide. This source only looks at groups in the United States. It does not include any comparisons with other indigenous groups, which would relate it to certain aspects of our new curriculum.

Purpose:

Les Amerindiens gives a fairly extensive topical overview of different aspects of life, culture, and history and current state of Indigenous peoples in the United States. It endeavors to show sensitivity to Indigenous people through quotations from famous leaders, historical photographs and drawings.

Currency:

This book is remarkably out of date. It was published originally in English with the title Indians of the North American Plains in 1978. The French version was published in 1981. As a result the book contains a number of more negative elements that are listed in the FNESC resource evaluation: inconsistent cultural portrayals, representing First Peoples as vanishing or assimilated, loaded terminology. The information presented as current affairs at the end of the book is very dated and does not represent Indigenous peoples as having a current vibrant culture or contributions to contemporary society (FNESC evaluation guide, 134).

Curricular Connections:

There are many possible connections using this book as a source. But I would limit its use in the primary grades to the mechanical aspects of the information given. For example, utilisation of the bison, description of weapons, etc.

Curricular links:

• Cultural characteristics and ways of life of local First Peoples and global indigenous peoples: protocols celebrations, ceremonies, art...
• Interconnections of cultural and technological innovations of global and local indigenous peoples: transportation, clothing, shelters and buildings, weapons, hunting and fishing techniques...

For intermediate students, rather than using this book as a source for informational research it could be used as a document to exercise critical thought around voice, representation, and authenticity.

Curricular and Core Competency links:

• First Peoples land ownership and use: treaties, land claims disputes...
• Economic policies and resource management, including effects on indigenous peoples: relocation of communities, hour should societies balance economic development with the protection of the environment...
• Development of “a set of abilities that students use to examine their own thinking, and that of others, about information that they receive through observation, experience, and various forms of communication.” (BC curriculum: Critical Thinking)
• Ability to “empathize with others and appreciate their perspectives.” (BC curriculum: Social Responsibility

Efficient Use of Library Space:

As it is only one book, Les Amerindien poses a limited threat to there not being enough room in the library. That being said, there are others of the same era in the collection and taken as a whole they do not contribute to an efficient use of library space. As they are not a good source of information for primary students and only a few examples would need to be kept to demonstrate changes in authenticity, theme, and voicing for intermediate students, it should be removed.

Part 2

Evaluation of a possible replacement resource: Les peuples autochtones du Canada / les explorateurs européens.

	* * * * Unparalleled	* * * Very Good	* * Fair	* Poor	N/A
Content Scope What is the purpose? Who is the audience? How current is it? Is it effective? (Riedling, 22)		X
Accuracy / Authority / Bias Who provided the information? Why? Does the author or contributor? have biases? Are the facts reliable? (Riedling, 22)		X
Accessibility / Diversity “How well the item meets the needs of linguistically, culturally, and intellectually varied learners...” Is there information from different cultural perspectives? (Riedling, 23)	X
Curricular Support “Includes materials to enrich and support the curriculum” (TL Handbook, 8)		X
Presentation / Physical Makeup “Creative...readable.... Good graphics...” (FNESC, 132-133)	X
Cultural portrayals “consistent with First People’s attitudes and values” (FNESC, 134)	X
Sensitivity Avoidance of stereotypes / prejudices (FNESC, 134)	X

Relevancy:

The source will be more relevant to my students because it focuses specifically on Canadian Indigenous groups. The level of french used, as well as the multimedia presentations are geared towards younger students. This is a key element and source of difficulty in selecting and purchasing reference works. Often, the academic nature of the text puts it out of reach linguistically for younger students and students in French Immersion. The packages includes print copies of the book, DVD videos, access to online videos, blackline masters, an online e-book, and a videobook. All these sources offer differentiated learning access points for students.

Purpose:

Les peuples autochtone du Canada / Les explorateurs européens is part of a “Cause et Conséquences” series that looks at beliefs, technology, government, and culture. The resource considers the consequences of differing perspectives and encourages critical thinking through various forms of information gathering: print, online, text, interviews, and virtual museum visits.

Currency:

This resource was published in 2016.

Curricular Connections:

The publishers have provided a chart documenting the curricular links between the resource and the new BC curriculum. They are attached. This resource has also been approved by the Aboriginal Resource Centre for our district and they have their own copies at the district office.

Efficient Use of Library Space:

This book comes with multiple copies, but they are not large and therefore do not take much library space. The wealth of online information attached to their purchase is very valuable and does not require space in the physical library. I appreciate that there are multiple copies of the text as teachers in grade groups will often coordinate their lessons and projects to aid with collaboration. Having more than one text, as well as multiple access licenses to the online videos and books will be beneficial.

Conclusion

Books like Les Amerindiens have limited use in an elementary school library. They provide little usable information for introductory research projects and a large collection of this type of source is not necessary as an evaluative tool for older students. A few examples will suffice for critical thinking exercises. A new reference source like Les peuples autochtone du Canada / Les explorateurs européens with its online accompaniments will be helpful in a learning commons space where students are encouraged to use different types of media sources. This resource also offers a current and more authentic representation of Indigenous peoples. With input and direction from Indigenous leaders and multiple perspectives considered it would be valuable in our resource collection.

Works cited

BC’s New Curriculum.30 Jan. 2018. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/

Jo-Anne L. Chrona, et al., editors. Authentic First Peoples Resources. 30 Jan. 2018.

http://www.fnesc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PUBLICATION-61460-FNESC-Authentic-Resources-Guide-2016-08-26.pdf

Les peuples autochtones du Canada / Les explorateurs européens. 31 Jan. 2018.

http://booksmarts.biz/les-peuples-autochtones-du-canadales-explorateurs-europeens-french-kit-copy/

Riedling, Ann Marlow, et al. Reference skills for the school librarian: tools and tips.

California, 2013.

Stephen Anderson, et al., editors. School District No. 36 (Surrey) Teacher-Librarian

Handbook. 30 Jan. 2018. https://www.surreyschools.ca/sites/TF83DFQJB21/Documents/TL%20Handbook.pdf