I might as well entitle this post “going postal”, because that’s how it feels to be developing and co-ordinating from scratch a multi-site event focused on reading in First Nations that isn’t more academic navel gazing, but an opportunity to let communities voice their perspectives and needs.
Of course, having the funding and the opportunity is not enough, you need buy in from the other parties that this is something that can be of value to them as well. Having existing relationships and partnerships really help, but you can’t drain them for their time and involvement especially when they are in the middle of their own end-of-year craziness. So instead, I am focusing on what I CAN do, which is design the event at Northern sites in a way that takes into account their community interests, in a format that is appropriate to the setting in which those events will take place. I find myself worrying that we are ‘neglecting’ the planning for the Toronto site, but that just sounds ridiculous. Focusing the effort on what’s happening in the North on March 29th is the most appropriate thing to do; we want those sites to be a success. For Toronto, it’s just another day and it’ll be over, but for sites like Keewaywin, Deer Lake, Fort Severn, I hope it will be a day like no other.
The most exciting development to date is getting Dan Reetz on board. Sometimes, a little bit of idealism can go a long way.
