Exiting the Cultural Sustainability Class Fall 2010

Reflecting on Cultural Sustainability Class Fall 2010 with Dr. Rory Turner

Cultural sustainability class was considerably intense when I think of how much thought provoking work I accomplished in six weeks time.  It demanded my disciplined focus for accelerated speeds of progress to goals accomplished.

My goals and objectives were to refine what I thought I knew about Cultural Sustainability and myself, while making decisions on the construction of my Ground Work Project.   The process of examining ancient traditions originating years ago compared to fresh ideas facilitated to contemporary communities made me look at, and consider what is it I am trying to do, and why am I trying to do it.

This class presented guidance and supported evidence of plans that are feasible through discussion and readings about the concept of the practice of Cultural Sustainability. The reading influenced my decisions on many concepts as well as what are the results I am looking for in my projects.

All my life being an Artist whether it’s performing or visual, so often I hear people say to me, you have such a talent, don’t waste it.  There is a huge demand. A gift developed in responsibility is put through constant analysis.   Art is constantly changing making structure much bigger than the art itself. There is need for self-preservation.

I want to further develop how to proficiently bring about environmental, economic, social, and cultural changes to communities.  I also want to know more on how my art can serve as the vehicle to convey information to other communities of thought.

I also want to pursue: how to decide what is good and what communities are developing liminal ideas and what that means to the development and continuation of their culture. Keeping my perspective on what I want to accomplish, I am curious to explore our fears of chaos, and why we need culture to keep our structure sound. Why was important in ancient times to be a community member compared to now.  What does it mean to truly be a community member?  Is it the bloodline or is it the acceptance of the community? Why is it that we are always trying to stay at a level that proves our culture to the champion of other cultures? What are we seeing, and thinking, what are we feeling that makes us want to sustain certain communities and their culture?

With that said, Studying Cultural Sustainability is still intensely thought provoking leading me in the continuation of the process of critically thinking about my project as well as others in the field, self reflection and seeking new ideas from studying the components of the practice of Cultural Sustainability.

Final Groundwork Project

Two Question Essay

Deborah Spears Moorehead

Cultural Sustainability

Fall 2010 Dr. Rory Turner

Essay RE: Introduces issues raised that were most important to me.   Comments

Assessments  on how these issues are relevant to my work helping to sustain culture .

In the discussion of group A consisting of Jessica G , Queen,  Ashley and  I,  the  concepts that we have learned and discussed give me a  better understanding of  how I am personally  affected by the  local as well as the global  economy.   The way a society runs affects not only it’s resources , and  people but it also has a ripple effect  in the world economy.   Understanding these concepts helps me to make crucial decisions  while planning cultural sustainable projects and programs.

In the group discussion  an issue Sunny  commented on ,  was that there is a danger in the direction  the culture we live in is heading.   New technology replaces old.  The danger is the industrial age has  grown in a way that damages the resources  needed from the earth.

The next issue I commented on was:   Should a person’s financial main goal be, to accumulate as much money as one  can in a lifetime,  for ourselves and the security of our children?

We  concluded that wealth doesn’t necessarily always lead to happiness.  Growth is not making people wealthier, and being wealthy is not making people happy.   The machine is not working properly. We want to be happy so no was the answer.

We know that keeping money in our country  is a solution to it’s economy.

Our  society it is set up like a hierarchy where there is a government-based society that controls down from congress to state , city , town  community, to the people.

Corruption  in government unbalances wealth.   Many countries have different standards  and no one wants to dictate over one another, although  world  powers do that all the time. Politicians bend the thinking towards their  own wealth.   Third world countries have progressed to economies  that are comparable to world power  economies.

Another issue is that Americans do not do the kind of work that foreigners do.    Foreigner  can afford to work cheaper because it is less expensive to live in their country of origin . United States has  made wealth out of industrialization.    We have made  money on cheap labor , although that money leaves the economy when it goes back to the community of the foreigner.  Foreigner  aren’t earning  enough to finance  huge cars and disposal television and phones in their country  so they come here so they can make big money to buy the things that Americans have.  Some employers send the work out to other countries because it cost less to manufacture their product in another country which in turn ,takes a way jobs from the community.  In the mean time Industry is exploiting the resources of the earth . This country was established on there is a wealth of resources , the city streets are paved in gold.  It was a place to come and make your wealth.  Land was the most sought after resource .

Land has  come back to the community in forms of community gardens , farmers markets that promote message that we should recycle,  buy locally to boost our own economy and walk gently on Mother Earth.

The problem is  big companies like Wal-Mart pays less for products making it less expensive for the consumer.  If I had the choice to pay less for an item at Wal-Mart  then why would I spend double for the same product in my community.

It has been only one thousand  years  since we grew away from living on community land .

In a  community land  based society the distribution of power is equally balanced.  People depend on each other for their needs so everyone is needed and has a job in order to have an income. When someone has an income it keeps the wheels of an economy moving.  There isn’t a need for efficient growth when we are providing only for our community, so there isn’t a need to hire foreigners who will compete for our wages.   We also have to keep in mind that there is always going to be a  world  competition , so we still have to do what we can  to be cost efficient and make a profit.

I am not saying that we should live in a commune , native american  village or try to create a utopian society , but   we can try to fix our  world , starting  with  ourselves, family, and community.   If we lead as role models and  if it works others will follow.

In conclusion more is not necessarily better . Americans cannot work for less . We have to designs solutions that provide for ourselves,  that do not destroy our natural resources and live lives that appreciate the essence of where happiness actually originates from .

Group A also discussed Queens story .  The issue was the question of  whether a culture or tradition not in existence,  can be brought back and still be  sustainable.  The answer was yes.  It is possible to research, resurface  or be taught a tradition or culture and reclaim it .  It can be passed on once again through cultural sustainability.   It is also my understanding that traditions and culture is constantly changing .

Annotations/ Blogs

http://www.nativeweb.org
mcna.org Mass Center for Native American Awareness
http://www.rhodeislandindiancouncil.org
nefa.org New England Foundations for the Arts
http://www.nmai.si.edu National Museum of the American Indian
http://www.tomaquagmuseum.com Tomaquaug Memorial Indian Museum
http://www.culturalsurvival.org Cultural Survival Magazine
kalel1461.tripod.com Seaconke Wampanoag

enwikepedia .org/history/_of_Bermuda is  website that is written and edited by the people about the reconnection of the StDavid Bermuda Indians

newspaperrock.bluecomcomics.com is about the reconection of the Bermuda and Eastern woodland Indians

http://www.bermuda-online.org/populationfreepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com  re: Bermuda Indians

plimoth.org Plimouth Plantation

http://www.pequotmuseum.org Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center

http://www.culturalsurvival.org…indegenous…arts…homecoming is an article re: The reconnection of the Bermuda Indians and the New England Indians

Native web is web site that  is sought of a clearing house to find resources for Native American Tribal Nations of the East Coast.  Massachusetts Center of   Native American  Awareness is a non-profit agency that promotes the awareness of Native Americans in Massachusetts.  The culture is kept alive through native events such as socials and powows that educate the general public of the Native Americas in Massachusetts and surrounding areas.  The non-profit assist Native Americans with heating assistance and scholarships.  You can find me as a dancer and a vendor at many of the MCNA events.

Rhode Island Indian Council is also a non-profit that assist Native Americans in traditional and cultural matters.  RIIC  has many programs dedicated to promoting the lives of the Wampanoags and Narraganssetts of Rhode Island .  New England Foundation for the Arts is angency gives grants to Artist .  National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian  Institution  is a museum dedicated to the American Indian.  They have programs that promotes the cultural and traditional well being of American Indians. They also have grant programs that assist Native Artist in the Arts .  I was awarded The Youth Mural Project Award 2005-06 . I also collaborated with the Tomaquaug Indian Memorial  Musuem’s   Narragansett Story Teller Paula Dove Jennings  and Nettukkusq Singers . Nettukkusq composed songs for a DVD  called Memories Dreams and Stories of the Narragansett Indians.  Tomaquaug Memorial Indian Museum is a Museum in Exeter, Rhode Island that continues the cultural ways of the Narragansett Nation.  There is a Thanksgiving ceremony celebration  for all  harvest in  every season of the year.  This museum is a non-profit.  My relatives own this museum that also has a Native American school called our home school (Nuweetoun) attached to the museum.

Cultural Survival is a magazine located in Boston that does exactly what it’s title implies.  They assist in language revitalization projects .

Plimoth Plantation and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center are destinations that promote CuturalSustainabilty of the Wampanoag and The Pequot.   Native American Research is thier specialties . Seaconke Wampanoags are my mothers family. They work hard at reclaiming and sustaining our cultural and traditional ways.

Vimeo Paper Discussions and Groundwork Project

Dancing at Paugussett Connecticut

Here it is, Saturday evening, so many distraction everywhere,  making it difficult to concentrate to write a five hundred-word blog.  It’s not that I don’t have anything to say,  I just need discipline to quiet myself, focus, and give myself time to do what I need to do, for me.

Here are my thoughts concerning the responses of the papers and discussion relating to Dr. Rory’s Basket Scenario Vimeo Video for  the  Ground Work Project.  The vimeo video concept, is helpful  for those of us ready to begin our Ground Work Project, to associate the basket with seeing our projects from a  visionaries’ prospective.

It assists in decisions regarding : what has to be prepared , how to prepare, how  much is  needed, who is needed and where will it take place ?   We need to think of what we have to do to protect our project to keep our goal in sight. We also have to make decisions on  whether or not our project goals will have the outcomes that we want to achieve and if they don’t, will it still be Cultural Sustainable?

Reading the reflections blogs and discussion posts, I realize that we are not in this alone.  Some post mirror my concerns about, time organization , technical difficulties and content of my work . When I read these concerns my anxiety melts a way because I see that I am not the only one with these concerns. I am totally amazed that the things I thought I couldn’t do, I am doing.

The posts my colleagues are writing are supper  supportive of each others efforts  filled  with positive and encouraging magic.  The exercises that built strong friendship relationship bonds and good repor during our ten days together gives our friendships  team spirit and sustainability.

The night before I was leaving for the trip to Maryland  my family took me to a waterfall.  They know I love waterfalls so we were making a good memory before I left.   At the waterfall I hurt my knee so badly that I thought of the possibility of calling off  my  trip  to Goucher and just starting the Masters Program in January.  That would be Procrastination.

I told my son that I really didn’t like leaving home  for ten days but there are some things you just want, and have to do for your self.   I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to walk the next day but I was determined to go.

Quite along time ago my father in-law said to me, that’s what I liked about you, your determination.  He said if I wanted something I wouldn’t stop until I had what I wanted.

My son who is an athlete said “ Go Mom,  life is for living not for watching on the sidelines”.  So off I went on my ten day trip to Maryland.

I am an older student.  At first I was fearful that, my ideas would be as outdated as a dinosaur.  Now  I realiz that age doesn’t necessarily add up to the end of learning,  new friendships, caring , sharing knowledge and camaraderie.  When I met everyone, I must say I was glad to see a few people my age.  After many words of encouragement, I realized that my ideas were good creative and  innovative.

An assignment  given to me, was to learn  and introduce to everyone in class a proper young woman named  Raisa.  She  spoke of age appropriate concerns of being  a young mother,  but it was her inner strength and wisdom beyond her years that totally  impressed me .  It was then that I realized that age had nothing to do with the work we had ahead of us .

The next person I met was Candace.  I remember thinking, wow this is girl is smart and has the true grit to see  her projects through .  She will  bring science to women who wouldn’t necessarily believe they had the means or way to study science.     Our conversation is what I imagine it would be like , if I were  talking to Wendy Kopp the founder and CEO of Teach America . Candace and Raisa are just a few examples of the candidates in the MACS Program .  There are fourteen more in our class.

What are my strengths paper

Leadership and Self Development Fall 2010  Instructor Ross Peterson Veartch

Strength Based Leadership   Deborah Spears Moorehead       8-17-2010

What are my strengths as a leader?                 How do I think others see me ?

According to the report of the book  Strength Based Leadership written by  Tom Rath and Barry Conchie , four of  my strengths fall under the  category of a  Strategic Thinker.    The traits of a Strategic Thinker are Learner, Context, Strategy and Ideation.  I have another strength in the Influencing column as a Maxamizer.

Growing up in Rhode Island inspired and lead by example watching my parents and aunts and uncle’s provide a living supporting their families utilizing creative talents,  I knew  my talents would open doors of opportunities for me.

From the time I can remember, I knew my strength was a gift from the Creator.  It was very obvious that drawing was my strongest gift inherited from my family.

I saw this gift in both my parents families..   My mother was a strong willed Wampanoag woman artist who made it clear, what she expected of me.  I remember watching her hand fluidly drawing beautiful pictures while she gossiped with her friends on the telephone.  Aunt Doris made a fine living, as a Professional Artist focused in Jewelry Design and, Paintings. My father specialized in Woodworking and his brother Stone Masonry.  Their work was exquisite.    Uncle Russell carved and painted the rocks that were used for stonewalls.  I saw them as people who made a living on their creative talents.

One day my grandfather heard my sister and I singing.  It was though my grandfather ‘s few encouraging kind words of announcing to everyone in my family that I could sing, that I found the confidence to sing in front of audiences.   When I was about six my grandmother would make me draw everything in her house instead of talking.  It came from that old saying that children were to be seen and not heard. I wanted to talk. My mother called me Babbling Brook.   I ‘ve always been curious about how we came to be.   I am very content when I am sharpening my skills as an Artist or doing research on my heritage.  It helps me to understand the past to understand the future just as it says in my report.   I think life is too short to be wasting time repeating mistakes of the past.

Academically, consistently excelling in the creative arts, I began selling paintings in my early teens.  What motivates me, is the positive feedback I receive from people who praise my work,  encourage me, and buy my art.  I feel privileged to be able to do what I love and love what I do. .   I didn’t start out a great artist although I am self-motivated to be as great as I can be.

I enjoy collaborating with diverse talents while incorporating my research to foster projects that improve the lives of people in the community. It is what I consider a fun challenge.   My goal is to constantly make my work more intellectually stimulating to the observer.

When I was about ten years old,  I was caught carving my neighbors block of frozen  butter that was on their  kitchen table. They called me weird.  I saw it as sculpture. It was then that I knew there was something different about the way I heard music, saw shapes and saw the world.     I also realized others saw me as weird.  Weird was hard to take at times, but I realized that I had a different way of comprehending and it was part of the gift I had of being a creative person.  I stayed safe within the parameters of the Art classes in school where I was able to feel normal amongst fellow Artist.

My gift is unique because work is my own unique style.  I am a Wampanoag.  There are not many Wampanoag Indians left, never mind preserving our music , our ways and  sustaining our culture making traditional and  fine Art

I am told that I am very good at coming up ideas. People say I definitely like to have control over situations so it is natural for me to take the lead.  I tell them that I am equal with all. I was named the leader of my singing group because I have stayed involved the longest, networking, coordinating and pulling gigs together.   They say I know how to make things happen because I have good connections. It seems when I partner with perfectionist, as well as people who do well  in time management, and organizational skills there is no stopping the potential we have for making a project happen from beginning to end.

Reflections Connections

Conections by Deborah Spears Moorehead  1deborahspearsmoorehead@wordpress.com paintedarrow2@yahoo.om

There were many connections, of significance for me as I met  fellow colleagues  at Goucher College who, as I am,  are studying for the Masters of Arts  in Cultural and Traditional  Sustainability.  I was inspired to listen to their ideas of what this degree meant to them, and how they would use their education  to reach their goals.

One of our assignments was to read the book “ The Gift ”  written by Lewis  Hyde ,

While reading this book  I found truths of my own heart’s validity  within my own reality of identity as , a creative person.  I realized being different is not different at all. In my thoughts of reflection I realized that we are all the same in so many ways .This book, broke the ice for me to feel comfortable meeting new  people who are my colleagues in the Masters Program. I connected to this writer with thoughts of my own capabilities , and  humilities to realize a  personal need for continued reflection in order to grow as a person.

In these places of reflection , I feel  extremely privileged and humbled to be granted time away from my routine life to  be a thinker studying for a Masters Degree.  I am not a person who enjoys having to make a living with what I consider  mindless physical labor.  Some people thrive on punching in and out at their jobs, not having to bring or  think about work at home.  At this point in my life my work is studying,  teaching, singing  composing , writing , acting and making works of  Art.  I don’t know how long I would survive at a job without  being able to be working at something creative .

As I labor though concepts of the meaning of  Cultural Sustainability. My hopes are that I may  see a glimpse of the Creator’s glory and magnitude somewhere along  the journey.

My belief when I arrived on campus was that I was right where I needed to be in the realm of my place and role in the universe.  Since my arrival  to Goucher  College I have been taught that  there may be variables that change my knowledge of  truths and beliefs.

Susan  Meehan  is my friend .  We call friends Netomps in our native language . She is  Mohegan from Connecticut , also a graduate student  in  the MAC program.   She began her studies  just  one semester before our class.  She had told me to apply for this degree because it is a degree that fits perfectly with my,  as well as her,  life’s passions, to sustain our nations cultural traditions.  I wasn’t sure what she meant  when she first told me to apply , but since I’ve taken these classes I’ve realize she was right on.

I am familiar with  many subjects that are discussed in  Dr. Rory Turners  class.  This is why I find these studies to be so engaging. Dr Rory Turner created an environment that was exceptional  for self motivation, to learn , feel safe , to share and grow in our knowledge of Cultural Sustainabilty.

I have many years  experience of the issues he discusses and have already put these techniques of dealing with these subjects  into practice.  It is great to learn more useful tools to assist in cultural sustainability projects as well as learning the terminology to speak the language of the experts in this field of knowledge.

I’ ve  worked with native  communities  , assessed the needs wrote grants and was blessed to see and reap the positive affects of the outcomes .

An  example  of a program that involved the subjects discussed in Dr. Turner’s class was an Academic Advising Program I  co – designed for native youth. I worked as a  liaison for the tribal nation in at least twenty schools public and private,  working through  issues and differences between the school system and the tribal nation while advising the youth

I’ve lived and felt the pain myself as an at risk native youth so that is  where I developed my passion to assist native youth to overcome problems with decision making  to succeed.

I  chose to be a substitute teacher because of flexibility to choose where , when to work at whatever  school.  This  gives me time  to  do my creative work and projects , teach art  as well as  visit the schools so that the native youth see a native teacher  , role model, that  they can talk to . Also  If I see a problem , I know their parents well enough to give them a call.  There has been huge  problems in the past for  native youth.  I let them know that they have some one in their corner who understands them,   I assist with decision making that will have a win win affect for both parties. This is not a program.  It is something I do because I  see the need.  It doesn’t pay much.  I  roll up my sleeves and get to work . The funny thing is it doesn’t feel like work.

Our reading assignments keep emphasizing  that there is a need and the people doing Cultural Sustainability  have endurance  to roll their sleeves up and get the work done.

I ‘ve painted many murals for various communities and had to let them tell me what they wanted painted on their wall, that would depict their stories.

Excuse me  at the risk of sounding  arrogant but I never officially  reflected on the success of the outcomes of my students lives or successful  grant projects. I just cried when they shared their successful lives stories to me . I was just happy to see that  my programs or projects assisted in improving someone’s life. I didn’t see it as data but now I do. I never saw myself  the way I saw Michelle, who is  a Cultural Sustainability graduate  student in my class,  beam as she watched her students conduct plays in Guatemala.  Seeing Michelle at her work was like seeing a glimpse of the Creators magnitude . The funny thing was that when I thought I was helping someone else I was also helping my self grow too .

The End

Deborah Spears Moorehead       Talking Water

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