Graham Guest, right, has been the PNLS archivist for two decades. (Facebook/Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System)

By Derek Cornet

award winner

Archivist recognized for volunteer work

Jun 27, 2022 | 3:19 PM

Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System (PNLS) archivist Graham Guest is the recipient of a volunteer award from the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists.

He was presented with the special honour on June 24 and the award is meant to recognize Guest’s commitment to the local archives, as well as all the extra work he has done since joining PNLS in 2003.

When he first started as an archivist, he didn’t have any experience, but since then he has taken more than a dozen programs and workshops through the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists on subjects such as digitization, accessioning and preservation.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Guest said about receiving the award. “I have been with the archives in La Ronge for 20 years and Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists heard about this and they thought they should commemorate it. The award is for running the archives and going beyond the duty.”

Since 2002, the PNLS archives have grown to include 150,000 photographs, 18,000 print materials, and 2,000 audio and videotapes documenting countless aspects of life in northern Saskatchewan. A lot of work Guest does on a daily basis consists of digitizing slides and photos, enhancing images and ensuring the archive remains accessible to the public and researchers.

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Guest, who is currently working from home due to COVID concerns, has been able to complete his duties by phone and email. In recent months, he’s been working on new projects including a collection of photographs taken by a pilot in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as additional materials donated by long-time resident Lois Dalby.

In addition, Guest created a display for the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the urban reserve in La Ronge.

“It was well supported and there was a lot of interest in the display,” he said. “I have another for the Cree gathering coming up in July, which I will do doing another presentation for.”

Graham wanted to give a special thanks to PNLS for continuing to fund the archives. He explained in some years there hasn’t been dedicated funding, but staff and the board have always been able to keep it running by yard sales, book sales and other fundraisers.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno