PEI WRITER DEIRDRE KESSLER HEADS OFF TO WRITER-IN-RESIDENCY IN TASMANIA!
The IIS, UPEI Department of English, and PEI Writers' Guild, with funding from the UPEI Dean of Arts, collaborate in an annual writers' exchange between the islands of PEI and Tasmania (Australia). In 2007, the Tasmanian partners selected Deirdre Kessler to be the writer-in-residence in Hobart, Tasmania.
THE SMALL ISLAND CULTURES RESEARCH INITIATIVE CONFERENCE
June 28-July 3, 2007
“Culture and the Construction of Islandness” was definitely
the gala event of the year, replete with island art, music, dance and fine food
to complement the 42 scholarly presentations.
The Institute of Island Studies welcomed scholars from around the world to the third international conference of the Small Island Cultures Research Initiative. From June 28 through July 2, more than 40 presenters, two art exhibits, poetry readings, storytelling, live music, and the best of PEI cuisine delighted and informed participants from as far away as Fiji, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, and as near as Maine, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland.
Fascinating and important research was presented on such topics as island governance structures and processes, cultural identity and symbolism, literature, the politics of island infrastructure, economic and cultural impacts of tourism, immigration and emigration and islands as terrains of fear, longing, and self-discovery. The audience learned about how island traditions are becoming a tourist product in Gotland, Sweden; Cape Breton; Newfoundland; and the Aran Islands, Ireland. Island musical traditions were the focus of presentations from the Aeolian Islands, Vanuatu, Jersy, and the Shetland Isles. Language and media were the focus of presentations from Rotuma, Samoa, Tahiti, and Cape Breton. Globalization and climate change featured in presentations from the Isle of Man, Fiji, Indonesia, and Chuuk Atoll. Other presenters dealt more broadly with small-island myths, politics, and economic development. Holly Everett shares her reflections on the conference. A selected proceedings is available online. A photo gallery of the conference will be available soon.
INSTITUTE OF ISLAND STUDIES IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE "A WORLD OF ISLANDS": AN ISLAND STUDIES READER
"A World of Islands": An Island Studies Reader, edited by Canada Research Chair in Island Studies, Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, provides a global, research-based, comprehensive, and pluri-disciplinary overview of the study of islands. The expertise and insights of 42 scholars and contributors offer a unique collection of theoretical principles, ideas, observations, and policy proposals from—and for—the study of islands and island life.
This is a 640-page, 150,000-word, soft-bound text, with various black-and-white maps, figures, and prints. It is divided into four sub-sections and 16 chapters (see more below), respecting the physical and the human approach to the subject identified in the title.
Each chapter includes arguments, explanations, figures, and diagrams representing island life from a specific disciplinary perspective; most have an annotated, island-specific case study that would serve as an application of the chapter’s arguments.
ISLAND STUDIES DIRECTOR MODERATES PUBLIC FORUM ON WATER QUALITY AND HEALTH
A new collaboration for IIS, building on the work done with science faculty for the Dreamers’ Symposium. This event was jointly undertaken by UPEI and Ryersion U., and Dr. Novaczek moderated a panel featuring biologists and community partners.
INSTITUTE OF ISLAND STUDIES RELEASES MUSEUMS REPORT, MARCH 2007
The Report on PEI Museums Consultation provides information on public forums undertaken by the IIS in February 2007, in response to public concern over a proposed move of the Museums storage facility to Murray River.
The Museum Committee is to be greatly commended for the amazing work they accomplished in developing and carrying out a series of public consultations on PEI museums and heritage in March 2007. The fruit of this labour was much more than the report that was distributed to policy makers and the interested public. The forums were very effective venues for public education and the construction of knowledge. Through the forums we also developed bonds with many key players in PEI’s heritage community, and we plan to continue to work with these active citizens in the coming year, as the province goes through their own process of public consultations and planning, moving towards – we hope – a provincial museum. An example of a fast moving “policy puck” that was handled with agility and carried off despite the lack of adequate finances!DAVID SUZUKI AND THE DREAMERS' SYMPOSIUM, February
A collaboration with the PEI EcoNet, sponsored by the UPEI President and Deans, our day with David Suzuki sold out and provided some much needed funding for our community partner. The Dreamers’ Symposium that followed laid out visions for a more sustainable future for PEI. Many Islanders who attended this event expressed positive feedback.
THE FIRST CHILOE INTERNSHIP, Oct - June
Intern Dolores Le Vangie spent nine months, five of them on the island of Chiloe in Chile, researching indigenous peoples’ use of seaweed for food and medicine. She did so well we found funds to keep her through the summer developing a community workshop, and now she’s the new student assistant for the SE Research Network, and researcher attached to Jean Mitchell’s Social Economy project on youth in Hillsborough.
NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT ECOSYSTEM INITATIVE, March
After 18 months of public consultations, scientific analysis, discussion and negotiation the Strait working group came out with a final report and recommendations in March 2007. We are still awaiting a concrete response from government.
CCEDNET CONFERENCE, 18-21 April
Rupturing her achilles tendon while dancing to fiddle music at the opening reception did slow down the Director a bit, and half the participants either failed to arrive or (like our own Katie Harris and Rob Sharkie), came in days late owing to the Nfld fog, but this was nevertheless a fruitful conference with lots of networking and learning opportunities… not to mention singing and music making in the Social Economy hospitality suite.
SOUTHERN GULF OF ST LAWRENCE COALITION FOR SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 24-26 May
Dr. Nagarajan and Dr. NovaczekI were on the development team for this conference on planning for community sustainability. They both delivered keynote addresses, and other SE Network members also delivered papers or participated actively. The conference attracted government, NGO and municipal participants to share a wealth of practical information.
Institute of Island Studies