Presence – A Research Guide to Indigenous Materials at the CDMLA

A finding aid highlighting videos, ephemera, publications  and other records created by, with, or about Indigenous peoples within the archive.

About the guide

This guide aims to provide a starting point for recognizing, naming and researching the presence, influence and traces of Indigenous artists, producers, contributors, movements, organizations and communities within the CDMLA archival collections. It also reflects the limitations and biases of the media arts scene on the west coast.

Across the 50 years represented within the collections, Indigenous people have  produced videos, collaborated, run events, distributed flyers, organized, resisted, held ceremony, been featured in videos, performed, and otherwise been a presence within the local and global media arts scene.

Although the CDMLA collections primarily feature media and textual records, which are documented in this guide as a place to begin research, these video works, publications, and ephemera are only one set of paths for navigating this topic.

Content Note

Please take care when navigating the guide and when accessing any archival resources. You may encounter outdated or actively harmful terminology, and other materials may depict or reflect harmful perspectives and exclusions. Videos cover multiple decades and include both Indigenous and non-Indigenous creators and contributors.

If you need support or wish to discuss any of the materials, please reach out to library@vivomediaarts.com.

About the materials

The materials in the CDMLA primarily were created between 1970 and the present, with heavy representation from Vancouver and the surrounding areas. The archival collections have also developed alongside the artists and producers who have been part of the local and international video art community over the years.

Materials have been selected for inclusion in this guide based on a number of factors. Much of the guide names videos and other materials created directly by Indigenous peoples or in collaboration between Indigenous creators and settlers. However, videos and materials created by settlers and/or by unknown creators are also part of the guide as a practice of revealing presence and traces in the CDMLA archive.

Materials include:

• Video including documentation and documentaries in a variety of formats
• Photographs
• Ephemera such as flyers, event schedules, posters, postcards
• Archival records including correspondence, grant applications and meeting minutes
• Publications

This research guide is an evolving work in progress and likely does not yet include all relevant materials – reflecting the scope of the initial project and knowledge of the original archivist.

What materials and people are present in the CDMLA collections reflects the complexity of the strengths, limitations, harms, and histories of VIVO Media Arts Centre and video art itself.

About the creation of the guide

The first iteration of this research was created over the course of 2021 with an archivist position funder by a BC Arts Council funded Early Career Development Grant as well as with the support of staff and past archivists.

The guide was initially created to enhance, better care for, digitize and better describe the Indigenous materials in the care of CDMLA. The overall project hopes to support VIVO and the CDMLA in understanding what materials are in their care and what responsibilities and accountability these records entail.

A general overview of CDMLA resources is available here.

Acknowledgements