Greetings. Let me again introduce myself to those who have recently joined
one or more of the NativeNet mailing lists. I am the founder and manager
of the lists, though I have turned most of the day-to-day moderation duties
to Jay Brummett (jay@slcpl.slcpl.lib.ut.us) and subscription administration
to Mary Kuhner (nnadmin@genetics.washington.edu), with our World Wide Web
demonstration site managed by Marc Becker (mbecker@uclink2.berkeley.edu).
I expect to be posting a series of articles during the coming weeks on a
variety of subjects relating to new directions for NativeNet, such as the
expansion of and development of an oversight committee for our Web site,
as well as a variety of projects that I would like to suggest we think
about tackling as a community. I also hope to report on a number of events
that have taken place and some that I hope will take place that relate to
what I would like to think of as representing our shared goals as a "virtual
community."
Right now I come to you with a rather immediate need that with which I hope
some of you would be willing to help. I have been contacted by the producer
of a series of television documentaries for one of the cable networks who is
interested in doing a program on NativeNet in which would be featured stories
of how people in various parts of the world are using the information-sharing
resources it provides, primarily at a community level. She is looking for
examples of communities of indigenous peoples who are using the network to
serve their information needs, and the effect this electronic communications
technology has had, both at the personal and the social levels. She is
especially interested in how traditional people might be using the technology.
This producer, who is presently living in Chile, from where she called me
today, will be calling again on Monday morning. I told her that I would do
what I could to investigate files that I maintain on a variety of subjects
related to NativeNet operations, looking for ideas which could be turned
into the kinds of narrative stories that she hopes to create. I also said
that we could expect by next weekend to have a set of responses that would
provide a much more substantial basis than I could provide alone to help
her with the meeting she will be having with those with whom she is working
on this project. Though I might be able to suggest a few possible leads, I
do not at this point have a good idea of the kinds of personal contacts that
I am sure NativeNet list subscribers make with one another on a routine basis
in connection with the kinds of subjects that would be useful for documentary
purposes. I am hoping that some of you can provide the kind of help that is
needed - initially by providing some information to me that you would like me
to submit on your behalf (anonymously for now, if you prefer) as potential
material for feature in the documentary, which will include a number of
anecdotal accounts.
The plan, as I understand it, is to send film/video crews around to various
locations where members of our far-flung community reside - probably primarily
in the Americas, but I suspect they have the resources to do some work in
other parts of the world as well (I will have a better idea on this aspect of
the project after talking with my contact again on Monday). I see this as an
exceptional opportunity for those of you out there in the category referred
to who would like more exposure for what is going on in your community, which
I would think might lead to the kind of attention around the world that could
result in various kinds of benefits, including financial, flowing into that
community as a result. (Yes, I know that sometimes these kinds of things can
be "mixed blessings," so you might want to give careful consideration before
giving consent to being filmed for purposes of this program. I would be glad
to submit story ideas to this person in a way so as to remove identifying
information in order that an idea can be considered without risking exposure
of your own identity unless and until you have had an opportunity to discuss
the matter with others in your community and have obtained the necessary
consent to provide full cooperation.)
For now, I would appreciate anyone out there who might be willing to take
part in this documentary project, or who would like more information to
contact me directly ("gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us"). Do not simply respond to
this article - use the indicated address in a separate message (sending a
reply to a message received from the LISTSERV software will result in a
followup posting to the list on which you received the original article).
Thanks very much to anyone out there who can help - even if you only have
a suggestion - and thanks to all of you for sharing the information and
ideas and points of view that you do on a daily basis. I will be trying
to be more visible myself, sending out informational bulletins and project
reports on a more regular basis. I look forward to getting to know more
of you better and to working with you on mutually important goals.
Best regards to all,
Gary
--
Gary S. Trujillo (617-776-0121) gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Somerville, Massachusetts {wjh12,bu.edu,spdcc,cdp}!gnosys!gst