APALA’s Scholarships & Awards Committee is honored to announce scholarship recipients for the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum: Thanh Mai K’taaya Bercher, Desireé Castro-Manner, Erlinda C. Naputi, and Stephen Shaw. The APALA Executive Board has provided funds for the first time for members to attend this forum.
Thanh Mai K’taaya Bercher
Thanh Mai (they/them) is an herbalist, community scholar, and public health advocate working at the intersections of mental health, trauma-informed care, and cultural revitalization. Thanh Mai has led community health courses in low-resource communities, across northern Mexico, Palestine, Greece, and various regions of Indian Country. They are a proud descendant of Vietnamese refugees, which guides their hope to integrate more narrative(s), ceremony, tradition, and medicine into communal and public health spaces. They are currently working on redefining indicators for positive mental health from a decolonized, community-based perspective, so as to empower and fund autonomous resources.
Desireé Castro-Manner
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Desireé Leialoha Castro-Manner is a proud Native Hawaiian and currently works as a Library Assistant for the Contra Costa County Library, where she oversees the Volunteer Services program and various Early Literacy programs. She is passionate about supporting families in fostering a love for reading and literacy while also ensuring equitable services that cater to the unique and diverse needs of her community.
Erlinda C. Naputi
Hafa adai! With over 31 years of professional public librarian experience, Erlinda Cabrera Naputi is the President of the Pacific Islands Association for Libraries, Archives, and Museums and the Library Director/CNMI State Librarian of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-CNMI State Library under the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Cabrera is passionate about the important role of public libraries, museums, and archives in developing vibrant and engaged communities, and she is actively engaged in numerous local and national boards and advisory groups. Her commitment to public service is a testament to her goal of enhancing the quality of life in our diverse community by providing opportunities for lifelong learners and creating spaces and opportunities to connect and engage people of all ages. As an indigenous Chamorro born and raised in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, she loves spending family time with her husband Martin, her four adult children Jay, Marlyn, Maelyn, Jose, and her grandchildren Avalyn, Ezekiel, Miklo, and Leia Renae. In her spare time, she loves playing golf and softball. She also enjoys growing root crops and vegetables at her family farm and teaching her grandchildren our Chamorro indigenous language and culture.
Stephen Shaw
Kia ora! My name is Stephen Shaw, and I am a children’s librarian just wrapping up his first year at the Elmhurst Branch of the Oakland Public Library. I was born and raised in Oakland, California, and am of mixed Maori (Tūhoe/Ngāti Ruapani) and White descent. I have been working to amplify the voices of fellow AAPI, particularly expanding collections and services for Pasifika communities at my library. As part of my library’s racial equity team I have been working to ensure that our library is an equitable and welcoming space for all. I am deeply appreciative to APALA for this opportunity to connect with and learn from other indigenous and AAPI library workers. And I look forward to working with APALA more as I continue to grow as a librarian!