Update from U'mista

We have been working through the new version of the site and looking for bugs and learning the new features, to learn them and help people who may be signing up to the RRN. During any presentations we do, we have the opportunity to highlight the unique features the site has to offer. Seeing the site work at first hand on a big screen certainly gets people’s attention. The feedback is always positive and encourages us to learn all we can about the site, to help us convey the depth and richness the site has to offer.

Here at U’mista there is an ongoing art class. This group of people are the ideal candidates to introduce to the RRN. Working artists are always pleased to have the opportunity to study other people's work. The collections that are available through the RRN are now in the public spotlight. We have the ability to look through artists from our Kwakwala speaking peoples such as: Willie Seaweed; Herbert Johnson and Mungo Martin. This is an invaluable tool to our young and aspiring artists to gain access to masks and regalia from times past. This art class has been recorded, and people can view photographs and videos of old and contemporary work.

www.kwakwakawakw.weebly.com

-David, Lawrence

Update from Musqueam

Jody and I have been busy working in Musqueam as community researcher. We have both been working on the Website looking for bugs and testing the new version that Ryan and Tristan and the RRN team have been working on.

Jody and I are also doing presentations for Musqueam 101 (a weekly non-credit university-level seminar hosted by Musqueam in partnership with UBC) and audio interviews that will go on the item record page of the individual artists that are on the site. We are interviewing Joan Peters, Debra Campbell and McGeary Point this week. Debra Sparrow wants to come in to review her interview. Jody will edit the interviews and put them on the website. I enjoy this part of my work as I feel it is hands on work, challenging and exciting to interview and talk to these people in person. Also, when I went to talk to these people about putting their story on the RRN I could tell that they were overwhelmed and honoured to talk about their history and interest in art.  I am very interested in interviewing Roddy and Joan Peters; Roddy is the eldest person in Musqueam right now. The Peters have a fascinating background as their parents taught them many things of their history and they have kept their culture and language alive.  I am now contacting individuals to come to the board room for presentations and interviews. I decided to do this because not too many people have showed up at the Adult Learning centre.

I am happy and excited to go to the opening at MOA and to meet Steven Point, Lt. Governor in person.  Time is going too fast as the launch is coming so near.

-June

Happy New Year from the RRN

Happy New Year and welcome back to the bustling world of the RRN.

Just before the holiday break, the RRN Team pushed up version 0.6.3. Visit the RRN now to check out the new area for users to contribute information on the item pages. Work continues on the login and dashboard pages, and we continue to hunt down and fix bugs.

 You can share information in the space below every item record on the RRN

 

Viewing Shared Knowledge

Later this month, the RRN will be participating in the long-awaited reopening celebration for MOA. Three RRN kiosks will be located throughout the Ways of Knowing: Multiversity Galleries, and we are excited to have the Community Liaison Researchers join us here to share the RRN with visitors.

On behalf of the RRN Team, I would like to wish you all the best in the coming year as we count down to the launch of the RRN!

Cheers,

Joanne