Connecting with communities

After my first post, I received some wonderful comments from a couple people - thank you! Both commentators had observed my activities “in the field,” and were wondering about how I make connections with communities and individuals. I thought I might begin to offer a response to those queries with today’s blog post.

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES
In my experience, individuals and communities who are actively involved in the production of music and dance and other forms of expressive culture often have many things on the go already. When I reach out to people, I let them know that I would value learning about what they are doing - after all, it’s why I’m interested! I ask them if and how I might get involved and what I might be able to do to support them. Be prepared to roll your sleeves up - this has involved serving community hall suppers along with the ladies’ league!

CONTRIBUTE
I’ve started singing groups, offered workshops and events where communities have been able to come together, arranged for the cleaning and careful storage of historical artifacts and documents, and helped people learn about their family histories. You might be surprised to learn just how much it often means to people - particularly our elders, who are often the culture and tradition bearers to whom we turn in this kind of work - to sit with them, listen, and in doing so let them know their life’s work and knowledge are valued. Some people like to have copies of the publications that I produce, to be able to quote from them for publicity or grant applications, or just to have for themselves or their friends to be able to read and enjoy. Several research participants have asked that I write reviews of their work - recordings, books - for community newspapers and magazines. One research participant asked me to contribute liner notes to a CD - saying that, since I’d been interviewing her and writing about her for years, she feels I have a sensitive understanding of what she’s trying to do with her music. This was greatly affirming - and also gave me an opportunity to learn to do something new, and write in a new format for new audiences!

SERVICE
In connecting with people, I find the best place to start is usually to ask them what is most important to them in what they are doing, and how I might be of service. Some people talk about this kind of service as “giving back” to our research participants - it’s also a great way to begin a research relationship, to get to know people and let them get to know you. Service to communities is a foundation of collaborative research, cited in the vast literature on the subject - it resonates with my understanding of my role as an academic and educator.

(Research relationships involve a lot of preparation that most often far less glamorous, though - stay tuned for a post on this topic in the near future!)

NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARISE
To conclude this blog, here’s a story I’m very proud to share. A leader of a Toronto-based cultural/educational organization called the other day to say he had heard good things about the exhibit I was involved in creating in Cape Breton - yay! - and to solicit my participation, as a consultant and speaker, in an upcoming educational excursion he’s planning for his group. I suggested a talk on the topic of “Communities and Cultures in Cape Breton,” and invited Gaelic and Mi’kmaq studies colleagues to join me in the presentation. This is one way my work - which has, I observe, come to national acclaim - provides exciting opportunities for scholarly and institutional collaboration, intercultural relations and teaching/learning together with communities. This story also shows how doing something for a research community can also end up providing a researcher with new opportunities in return.