FROM ALL DIRECTIONS
INDIGENOUS AND REGIONAL CULTURES
AND WORLD MARKETS
News from Bronitsky and Associates
Bringing Together Indigenous Peoples and the World Since 1992
Dr Gordon Bronitsky, President, Bronitsky and Associates, Two Park Square, 6565 Americas Parkway NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM 87110, 505-563-5755, cell 505-238-3739; e-mail
Tony Duke, Director of Operations and Development, Bronitsky and Associates, Two Park Square, 6565 Americas Parkway NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM 87110, 505-563-5755, cell 505-238-3739; e-mail
European Office:
Dirk Steitz, Hofackerring 11, 79206 Breisach 3, Germany; Tel: +49
7664-408 972; e-mail
a monthly newsletter from Bronitsky and Associates about events and people from indigenous and regional cultures in the international scene - festivals, funding, conferences, publications and current issues.
Correspondence, subscription/unsubscription, opportunities, talent news, etc. should be directed to the United States office
Circulation: 4468
PLEASE NOTE: We’ve decided to put out From All Directions every other month—next issue will be out August 31
Our News - what's keeping us busy!
ORIGINS: First Nations Theatre From Around The World
Post-doctoral student Carine Ayélé Durand
Panel—Native Nations, Native Voices: Native and National Languages in Indigenous Performance
Film Screening
France
Mariachi Imperial de America in Armenia
ICACD, Ghana
Festival Development, Nigeria
THE DREAMING FESTIVAL, Australia
Mexican / Australian connections
For Your Diary
Events
Festivals
Funding
Conferences
Publications
Call for Submissions and Papers
News
Sites of Interest
Our News - what's keeping us busy!
ORIGINS: First Nations Theatre from Around The World, London 2009
Gordon Bronitsky, Executive Producer, and Michael Walling, Artistic Director, are continuing to bring the best Indigenous theatre from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to London in 2009 for the first full season of ORIGINS: First Nations Theatre From Around The World. Venues and companies have been penciled in and the fundraising quest is in high gear.
ORIGINS will create a market and showplace for the Indigenous theatre, culminating in the year 2012, the year of the Cultural Olympiad and the London Olympics. Future years will be opened up to Indigenous theatre from non-English speaking countries as well.
ORIGINS will soon have its own e-newsletter to spread the news and begin creating new dialogue among Indigenous theater makers, communities and audiences.
You can learn more about ORIGINS: First Nations Theatre From Around The World at our website, http://www.bronitskyandassociates.com/projects.htm
Post-doctoral student Carine Ayélé Durand
Carine Ayélé Durand is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. Born and brought up in France, she has lived in the UK since 2004. After completing degree in Social Anthropology on Afro-Brazilian theatre, Carine has held anthropology curatorial posts for nearly 10 years in Italy, France and the UK. She has curated exhibitions on a range of subjects including Contemporary Inuit carvings and the arts of the Amazon (Brazil, Peru). Carine's current research interests include collaborative exhibition projects between museums in Europe and indigenous peoples from the Pacific and Fenno-Scandinavia.
Carine's proposed post-doctoral research will focus on ORIGINS: First Nations Theater From Around the World. From 2009 to 2013, Carine aims to conduct a visually-based research on indigenous peoples' participation in the ORIGINS project. She intends to explore, through the media of photography and film, the use of indigenous peoples' language, music, material culture, movement and story-telling in contemporary theatre making, play writers and theatre makers' own research methodologies when creating theatre plays, and indigenous peoples' involvement in an international creative network.
Panel—Native Nations, Native Voices: Native and National Languages in Indigenous Performance
ORIGINS will feature a panel discussion on "Native Nations, Native Voices: The Role of Native and National Languages in Indigenous Performance". Invited panelists include
- Zacharias Kunuk, director of Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner (Nuavut, Canada) (http://www.atanarjuat.com/)
- Trevor Jamieson, creator, Ngapartji Ngapartji (www.ngapartji.org) which will be featured at ORIGINS inaugural year, London 2009
- Haukur Gunnarsson, Manager of the Beaivvas Sami Theatre, Norway (http://www.beaivvas.no/web/?giella1=eng)
- Laila Hansen (Greenland), Greenlandic actor and director
Film Screening
Michael Walling, Artistic Director for ORIGINS, will curate an evening of Indigenous film as part of ORIGINS—if you have a film you would like considered for screening, please contact Michael at
France
We have begun discussions with a university centre in France about bringing portions of the ORIGINS festival there as well—very encouraging!
Mariachi Imperial de America in Armenia
Plans are now well underway for the August tour of Mariachi Imperial de America to Armenia. Bronitsky and Associates is working in conjunction with the United States embassy. It should be quite a tour—five cities, two press conferences, local musicians sitting in on some performances, even billboards about the group around the main square of the capital city of Yerevan. We'll definitely keep you informed!
ICACD, Ghana
The recent International Conference on African Culture and Development report has been produced with the assistance of Tony Duke, the Director of Operations and Development at Bronitsky and Associates and is now available. The report details the Conference activities as well as presents a series of recommendations that will be used to further the interest and need for the recognition of culture and its importance in the future development and growth of Africa. The ICACD event bought together people from across Africa and around the world to contribute to the development of Africa from a cultural perspective. Plans are being developed for the next ICACD event in 2009 - for a copy of the report please contact:
Festival Development, Nigeria
The presentation of ideas and possibilities on the role of community and regional festivals as a strategy for community and economic development at the recent ICACD Conference in Kumasi, Ghana has led to an invitation from the Yankari Holiday Resort and Safari Park at the Yankari National Park in Bauchi State in Nigeria, to work together to undertake an initial feasibility assessment for the development and staging of a festival. Tony Duke, Bronitsky and Associates Director of Operations and Development will be traveling to Nigeria in late July to start the dialogue and initial planning - the funding for this consultation have been made available through the Bauchi State Governor's Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism.
DREAMING FESTIVAL, Australia
In early June Bronitsky and Associates were privileged to take a delegation of Native American performers to Australia's premiere Indigenous arts and cultural Festival - The Dreaming Festival - www.thedreamingfestival.com - in south east Queensland - Cochise Anderson, Dallin Maybee and Naomi Bebo. The group performed in the Dancestry area along with the Doonooch Dance company (Nowra, NSW Australia), the Injinoo Dance Team (Cape York region, Australia), the Tagai Dancers from the Torres Strait Islands and the now world renown Chooky Dancers from Elcho Island off the north coast of Australia. The Native American Dancers were well received and the event and experience made some real connections between the Indigenous peoples of Australia and of the United States. Cochise Anderson also gave a dynamic one man show performance in The Little Blak Duck delivering his thoughts, ideas and poetry to a receptive and appreciative audience.
Mexican / Australian connections
Following on from the Australian Indigenous representatives who visited the Cumbre Tajin Festival of Totonaca Culture and Identity in Mexico earlier this year, Sr. Salomon Bazbaz the Director of the Cumbre Tajin Festival was hosted as a special guest at the Dreaming Festival in Australia, sponsored by the Australia Council for the Arts, Bronitsky and Associates and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Plans are afoot to bring Australian Indigenous performers to next year's event in Veracruz, Mexico as well as to bring the fabulous Totonaca flying Voladores to next year's Dreaming Festival. There is also a high level of interest to bring the Voladores to a major performing arts venue in Sydney to showcase their skill and introduce the richness of the Totonaca history and culture to a broader Australian and world audience.
For Your Diary
If you would like to list an event, activity or publication with us, please forward details to before the 28th of each month to ensure its inclusion in the next FROM ALL DIRECTIONS newsletter.
Events
Native American Celebration with the Buffalo Philharmonic, New
York, July 20
Native American Celebration with Carlos Nakai and the Blacklodge
drum group with the Buffalo Philharmonic
July 20, 2008
Artpark in Lewiston, NY near Niagara Falls, NY
Concert starts at 3 pm
call 716 603-4546 for more information
Institute of American Indian Arts*Disney*ABC Summer Television
and Film Workshop Screening July 25th
Celebratory Dinner and Presentation Offered to Public Free of
Charge
Santa Fe, NM -The public is invited to attend a special screening for the Institute of American Indian Arts and Disney/ABC Summer Television and Film Workshop on July 25, 2008 beginning at 6 p.m. The event is a culmination of six weeks of hard work by fifteen Native American students from across the country. A complementary dinner with Native cuisine will be offered, followed by a first-time viewing of several original films. Disney/ABC executives will be on hand to discuss the unique partnership between organizations and students will attend to discuss their work. The dinner and screening will take place at the Library and Technology Center on the Institute of American Indian Arts Campus, 83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, NM. The event is free of charge and everyone is welcome.
For more details about this event please call Marcella Ernest at 505.424.5796 or email . For more information about the Institute of American Indian Arts New Media Arts Department, please visit www.iaia.edu/newmedia/index.html.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday May 13th 2008
918 207 6911
http://www.cherokee.tv
Kimberlie Gilliland:
Contemporary Laguna/Zuni Pueblo artist DeHaven Solimon to
exhibit work in South Dakota, August 31-October 29, 2008
Contemporary Laguna/Zuni Pueblo artist, De Haven Solimon will be
exhibiting paintings, drawings, and mixed media at the Journey
Museum, in Rapid City South Dakota. The exhibition will open on
August 31, 2008 through October 29, 2008.Her imagery can be seen at
her website,
www.SkyHunterArts.com. In addition to this upcoming exhibition,
Ms. Chaffins will also be busy creating the awards for the 2008 New
Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence Awards. Prints for this year's
award image can be seen and purchased at
www.nmnursingexcellence.org.
Festivals
IOV—International Organization of Folk Arts Calendar of Upcoming
Festivals
IOV, The International Organization of Folk Arts is assembling its
Festival Calendar for the next three years. As the new Festival
Calendar 2009 will be printed soon please e-mail
if you plan to
organize a festival in the next 3 years.
If you are aware of any other festivals in your country or region, please give this form to the organizer(s) and ask them to send the completed form back, if they want their festival to be printed in our calendar.
The deadline for festival entries is August 15th, 2008!
FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS—July 20-August 2, 2008, Tutuila,
Pago, Pago, American Samoa.
The Festival of Pacific Arts was created in 1972 in response to the
threat of the erosion of traditional art forms. This remains the
primary objective of the festival. The festival enables the
27 Pacific countries and territories to come together and exchange
ideas, knowledge, skills and techniques. It is a celebration of our
sameness and differences. The aho (strand) that weaves everything
together is the art, culture, language and artists from each
country.
Please visit: http://www.festival-pacific-arts.org/
THE WORLD OF MELODY FESTIVAL - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia -
2008 dates to be confirmed.
Since 2004, the World of Melody International Folk Art Festival has
been successfully organized in Mongolia by the Mongolian Association
of IOV. The main purpose of this festival is to advertise national
art throughout the world with its specific nature and tradition.
Please visit
www.iovmongolia.org
FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES, DUBLIN
Indigenous to classical, traditional, folk, eclectic and tribal,
the Festival of World Cultures offers a kaleidoscopic program of
concerts & club nights, fairs & markets, dance, street events,
workshops and so much more. A gigantic feast of arts and culture!
With over 250,000 people attending last year's event, the Festival of World Cultures is firmly established as one of Ireland's largest annual events. Most importantly however, it is proud to be an event that celebrates and nurtures the culturally diverse demographic of Ireland
Festival dates are August 22-24, 2008.
For more information, visit http://www.festivalofworldcultures.com/
Funding
Fulbright Award in Aboriginal Studies 2009-10
The Fulbright Scholar Program is offering two Research Chair awards
in aboriginal studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton,
Canada. This is an opportunity to join the dynamic faculty at the
School of Native Studies in researching historical and contemporary
issues related to native peoples and communities. Topics of interest
include but are not limited to legal and resource rights, Metis
resources and law, environmental change, and urban Aboriginal
residents. Junior scholars with promising research records as well
as established senior scholars are encouraged to apply. Awards range
from four to nine months. U.S. citizenship and a Ph.D. or equivalent
terminal degree are required. The application deadline is August 1,
2008.
Please visit www.cies.org for the complete award announcements and the online application. For more information, contact Carol Robles, Assistant Director for the Western Hemisphere, Council of International Exchange of Scholars, , 202-686-6238.
Conferences
Confluences: International Conference on Diversity and
Intercultural Dialogue
Interarts
23 July 2008 to 25 July 2008
Huesca, Spain
The Interarts Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Culture are
organising an event entitled Confluences - International Conference
on Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, which will be held in
Panticosa (Huesca, Spain), on 23-25 July, in the framework of the
Pirineos Sur music festival. An official event of the European Year
of Intercultural Dialogue, Confluences is also supported by the
European Commission, the Regional Government of Aragón and the
Provincial Council of Huesca (Diputación Provincial).
http://www.interarts.net/en/noticies.php?p=229
Publications
Sponsorship of Cultural Events, Organisations, and Activities,
2007
Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand, June 2008
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage's survey of cultural
sponsorship in late 2007 elicited responses from 60 businesses and
38 cultural organisations. Information was sought from businesses
and cultural organisations about the types of activities they
sponsor or are sponsored for, the level of sponsorship, their
attitudes towards sponsorship, and future intentions.
http://www.mch.govt.nz/publications/sponsorship-2008/index.html
Call for Submissions and Papers
Arab Fund for Arts & Culture, Amman, Jordan
AFAC invites individuals, NGOs, cultural and educational organizations, governmental bodies and private companies working in culture and arts in the Arab World to send in project proposals in the fields of:
Independent Filmmaking
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Literature
Research
Capacity Building and Training
Regional Cultural Events and Regional Exchange
Application should be completed in Arabic and sent by no later than 30 September 2008 to:
Conference—Selling Yarns 2: Innovation for sustainability
Presented by The Australian National University, Craft Australia and
the National Museum of Australia
Venue: National Museum of Australia, Canberra
When: 6 - 8 March, 2009
The conference will be held in association with the exhibition (ReCoil,
Change & Exchange in Coiled Fibre Art), curated by Margie West
Selling Yarns 2: Innovation for sustainability is a conference that addresses contemporary Indigenous craft and design practice. It draws on the outcomes of the first Selling Yarns conference held in Darwin in 2006 that looked specifically at contemporary Indigenous textile practice.
Selling Yarns 2 builds on the previous conference by presenting success stories that demonstrate innovation and new directions in Indigenous craft and design practice. It will highlight the work of Indigenous makers from the south eastern region of Australia and parallel the directions in practice of urban Indigenous makers with that of artists in remote communities. The conference will be held at the National Museum of Australia in March, 2009 in association with the exhibition Recoil, Change & Exchange in Coiled Fibre Art, curated by Margie West.
The aim of the conference is to demonstrate that through cultural practice a dialogue can be had that draws all interested parties together for the benefit of a rich and sustainable Indigenous culture.
A call for papers is now open. http://www.sellingyarns.com/2009/download/SY2.pdf
Topics of interest include:
Design and manufacture, engaging with
industry
Innovation for social and cultural sustainability
Mentoring between communities
The impact of government policies on sustainability
The internet and the global market for Indigenous craft and design
Tourism and museums as a driver for innovative practice
Papers: We invite Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners, researchers, academics, buyers, collectors, curators, business and arts advisors to respond with a 300 word abstract addressing the conference themes.
Workshops: We invite proposals to run workshops to build skills, increase awareness and appreciation, share information and develop understandings of new developments and sustainable practices.
Email 300 word abstracts to papers [at] sellingyarns.com (For enquiries, contact Louise Hamby on (02) 6125 8986 or Andy Greenslade on 0412 774 343
Email workshop proposals to workshops [at] sellingyarns.com (For enquiries, contact Valerie Kirk on (02) 6125 5833 or Adam Blackshaw on (02) 6208 5230
Deadline for abstracts and workshop
proposals: 1 July, 2008
Notification of acceptance: 1 August, 2008
Deadline for biography (on acceptance): 1 September, 2008
Deadline for full papers: 15 January, 2009
News
"Government signs Maori land deal"
4 JULY 2008
The New Zealand government has signed an historic deal to hand
over a large area of forest land to seven Maori tribes.((The
settlement transfers 435,000 acres (176,000 hectares) of forest in
the central North Island to the Maori. The agreement is the largest
single deal between the government and Maori tribes. Hundreds of
Maori witnessed the signing of the agreement in the New Zealand
parliament. Maori paramount chief Tumu Te HeuHeu said the objective
was to provide tribes with `a strong, durable and sustainable
economic future'.
http://www.survival-international.org/news/3423
"Pocahontas at the Court of James I" and "Choctaw Diaries"
Lyrichord Records announces the release of "Pocahontas at the
Court of James I" Part 1 & 2 and "Choctaw Diaries" Music by
George Quincy and Libretto by Thayer Burch. Available on
Amazon.com.
Pocahontas is a dramatic cantata that opens a window to the 1617 visit by Pocahontas to the English court, where as "Princess of the Kingdom of Virginia" she was presented and entertained. Performed by the Queen's Chamber Band. "The poetic vocals are strong yet smooth while the instrumentals frame the voices elegantly"
IIn Choctaw Diaries, the percussions, reeds, strings and Native American/Indian flute blend together to "make a remarkable avenue into the spirituality of Earth."
"Chickasaw press receives honors"
Ada Evening News, June 30, 2008.
"A publishing operation designed to print literature of importance to Chickasaw people is being honored by Harvard University. Representatives of the Harvard University Honoring Nations program recently informed Chickasaw Nation officials that the Chickasaw Press will be recognized as an outstanding example of tribal governance programs. `We are very pleased that our efforts to promote and preserve Chickasaw heritage and culture are being recognized by such a highly respected organization,' said Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation. Two of the three books published by the Chickasaw Press since it was established in late 2005 have received extensive recognition. ..."
Copyright 2008 Ada Evening News. All Rights Reserved. Full text available at: http://www.adaeveningnews.com/archivesearch/local_story_182123800.html
"Graduation, Kotzebue, Alaska, 2008";
Faculty, community members, students and families arrived by snow
machine, plane, or dog sled, or walked across frozen seas from
surrounding villages. This is graduation in the Arctic at Chukchi
campus, the northernmost branch in the University of Alaska System.
Today, at commencement, it is a sunny and crisp 33 degrees. Younger
residents don T-shirts and shorts.
Chukchi is situated in a place unimagined by most in higher
education. The college, in Kotzebue, Alaska, a settlement of 3,000
people, clings stubbornly to a gravel outcrop on the edge of the
Chukchi Sea, where flat snow-covered tundra meets icy waters.
Kotzebue is accessible by boat or air during three summer months;
and by air, snow machine and sled in the winter.
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/06/10/julius
"Bolivian Guarani resist forced labor on ranches"
Guarani Indians exploited for generations on Bolivian ranches say
the leftist government's pro-indigenous policies have encouraged
them to fight against living conditions described as modern slavery.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN18254614
"Siberian boom threatens traditions"
Russia is forging ahead with ambitious energy projects in eastern
Siberia, but the indigenous Evenk people are complaining that their
age-old way of life is in danger.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7029666.stm
"Australia's Stolen Generation finds its voice"
Australia now has a growing number of outstanding Indigenous actors
and directors and there is a growing buzz around several films being
developed by these filmmakers. The 55th Annual Sidney Film
Festival is highlighting several outstanding new Indigenous
filmmakers.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/25/aborigine.cinema/?iref=intlOnlyonCNN
Sites of Interest
For more information please contact:
University of Alaska Fairbanks—Chukchi Campus
Chukchi Campus is a rural division of the University of Alaska
statewide system. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is
Chukchi's main urban campus. Chukchi Campus is based in
Kotzebue, a remote Inupiat Eskimo settlement that lies some 26 miles
above the Arctic Circle in northwest Alaska and about 175 miles
northeast of the easternmost tip of Russia. Kotzebue is the
trade and transportation hub for Northwest Arctic Alaska, a region
with 11 villages dotting mountain and tundra wilderness in an area
the same size as the state of Indiana, or more than 36,000 square
miles. The region is about 90 percent Inupiat Eskimo.
http://www.chukchi.alaska.edu/general/
Guarani
A comprehensive guide to information about the Guarani people of
Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia:
http://www.socioambiental.org/pib/epienglish/guarani_kaiowa/guaranikaiowa.shtm
Miawpukek Band Government, Conne River, Newfoundland. Canada
When people think of American Indians, they often think of the
Indians of the Great Plains of Canada and the United States. Here is
a website from a Mi'kmaq Reserve in Canada with a strong focus on
the present and the future—and investment and economic development.
http://www.mfngov.ca/
All Things Mi'kmaq
All Things Mi'kmaq is a Web Directory of links to Mi'kmaq
businesses, politics, friends, resources, history, culture,
language, treaties, and more.
http://members.linkopp.com/tjitop/
Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance
The Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA) is a nonprofit Native
American arts service organization focused on preserving and
extending the art of basketmaking within Maine's Native American
community. MIBA seeks to preserve the ancient tradition of ash and
sweetgrass basketmaking among the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy
and Penobscot tribes.
http://www.maineindianbaskets.org/Links.asp
Many Strong Voices
Many Strong Voices is a collaborative programme with the goal of
promoting the well-being, security and sustainability of coastal
communities in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
in the face of climate change, by bringing these regions together to
take action on mitigation and adaptation. The MSV programme is made
up of a consortium of partners represented by nearly
20 Arctic and SIDS nations.
"Climate change in the Arctic is a human issue, a family issue, a community issue, and an issue of cultural survival. The joining of circumpolar peoples with Pacific Island and Caribbean States is surely part of the answer in addressing these issues. Many small voices can make a loud noise. As we melt, the small developing island states sink."
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
MSV Objectives:
Collaborate and build capacity in the Arctic and SIDS so that people in these vulnerable regions have a stronger voice.
Raise awareness about the effects of climate change on vulnerable regions in general and on the Arctic and SIDS specifically.
Work to understand regional needs and generate practical
mitigation and adaptation solutions.
http://www.manystrongvoices.org/
If you would like to contribute an item to FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, the monthly e-newsletter of Bronitsky and Associates, please forward your listing before the 28th of each month to .