Research Support Services for the Field of the Indigenous Studies

Ithaka S+R has organized a series of in-depth qualitative studies to investigate the needs of researchers in specific disciplines (e.g. Chemistry, Art History, Asian Studies). This paper is the local report of the Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas research team as part of a larger project involving 11 teams of librarians from the United States and Canada.Indigenous Studies (IS) is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary field. The research practices and information needs of scholars within IS echo its interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature. While Indigenous Research Methodologies is represented in the academic literature, the information needs of IS scholars needs further investigation. Therefore, a team of four librarians interviewed six Indigenous Studies scholars at Haskell Indian Nations University (Haskell) and the University of Kansas (KU) to investigate the research practices and library needs of Indigenous scholars at both institutions as part of a larger project coordinated by Ithaka S+R. The project revealed four prominent themes that emerged in discussions with scholars: knowledge, connection, journey, and giving back. The report explores these themes through the lens of Library and Information Science and concludes with recommendations for improving partnerships between the libraries and Indigenous scholars at Haskell and KU.This research was funded by KU Libraries and supported by Tommaney Library and KU Libraries through sponsorship of Ithaka S+R