Vanderbilt announced its new partnership with the University of Ottawa June 10, 2026. The collaboration aims to preserve the history of Indigenous peoples through community and Indigenous-led digital approaches. It was formalized through a new memorandum of understanding, signed April 15, 2026, by Vanderbilt librarian Jon Shaw and uOttawa’s Provost Jacques Beauvais. It is also supported by uOttawa’s Faculty of Education and International Office, Global Affairs Canada and Michael Hawes. Hawes serves as the chief executive officer of Fulbright Canada. Fulbright is an international government cultural exchange program.
The partnership was established through Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries and uOttawa’s Mobile History Lab. The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries currently house the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, the Slave Societies Digital Archive and Vanderbilt’s Digital Lab. Vanderbilt’s Cloud Innovation Lab for Libraries and Applied Digital Preservation, a program that utilizes artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to develop digital preservation techniques, is also part of the Digital Lab.
Ramona Romero, librarian of anthropology, classical and Mediterranean studies and philosophy, shared her belief that the partnership presents an opportunity for students and libraries to develop and share expertise.
“It’s an opportunity for the libraries to share our deep expertise in digital preservation and experience with hosting large-scale digital archives like the Television News Archive and the Slave Societies Digital Archive,” Romero said. “It’s also an amazing opportunity for our students at the Vanderbilt Cloud Innovation Lab to work on a digital project from the ground up.”
She also shared that she was excited that Vanderbilt is working to document and preserve Indigenous history.
“It’s always exciting to see digital projects like these that are working to preserve intangible cultural heritage,” Romero said. “By working to preserve First Nation histories and knowledge, we will also create opportunities for learning and understanding for generations to come.”
In a message to The Hustler, Shaw emphasized the partnership’s significance for both uOttawa and Vanderbilt. He also noted the opportunity the agreement creates for students to engage in digitizing and preserving Indigenous histories.
“Through the Mobile History Lab and our partnership with the University of Ottawa, we are helping ensure [that] histories, languages and community memories are preserved in perpetuity rather than lost through time,” Shaw said. “Equally important, Vanderbilt and Ottawa students will play direct roles in the archiving, digitization, processing and preservation of these materials, giving them hands-on experience in community-engaged research while helping safeguard irreplaceable knowledge for future generations.”
Rising junior and Multicultural Leadership Council president Marvy Nessim spoke on behalf of the MLC. She expressed support for the partnership, highlighting its prioritization of Indigenous data sovereignty.
“This collaboration reflects values that are central to MLC’s mission by uplifting historically underrepresented communities and ensuring that diverse histories and perspectives are protected and preserved,” Nessim said. “By prioritizing Indigenous data sovereignty, this partnership creates meaningful opportunities for Vanderbilt students to engage with important conversations surrounding historical accountability. MLC looks forward to seeing how this partnership strengthens opportunities for education and cross-cultural dialogue across campus.”
