more in NYU

Rain in New York! I went to a lecture at Columbia University ( a few subways away ). Joesph P. Gone was speaking on "Keeping Culture in Mind." This was about the "Prospects and pitfalls of Therapeutic Integration in a Canadian First Nation Treatment Center". I found the presentation very affirming for my own work and was inspired to feel I am travelling in the right directions in my thinking on this issue. Proffessor Gone has a few books out, which you can google.

Yesterday I gave another presentation on the topic of "Health , Human Rights and Community development" at NYU in the Culture , Media and History department. It was well recived and afterward I had great conversations with some of the people who came.

Faye Ginsburg and Fred Meyers are amazing people and they have really put a huge effort over the years to shaping this department . I am touched to find academics who genuinely care and who do so well mentoring their students to a high level. I have been so impressed and feel very at home here and supported. The work coming out of this department is very inspiring and creative and I will be sad to leave such a rich affirming environment. Fred and Faye have had a long association over the years with Australians and have helped and shared deeply with Indigenous people , here and In Australia and also in other parts of the world .The diversity is wonderful to be around. New York is wonderful this way !
I met so many people doing projects that move me deeply, across such a huge range of areas. I have learnt so much. I am sure to return to NY , well , I hope in some future time.
Tonight I am attending the opening of the "Margaret Mead film and video festival" www.amnh.org/mead and have been able to be involved in the screenings of a number of works in progress and documentaries from here and overseas . films from Indonesia , India , films on Disabilties and films made by Indigenous people, here in the USA and from Canada , south and central America .

My most current film is nearly finalised with the editing help of my good friend Paul Tait. It is a film about the wonderful Rhoda Roberts who inspired and visioned the " dreaming" festival in Australia. www.thedreamingfestival.com I am excited to have this come together in time to be screened perhaphs in Australia in Decemeber ( even though I will be here ). Wish I had more days and more hours in every day , so much to do and accomplish.
People here are also very excited about Digital stories and the narrative approach in working to address health issues and Trauma. I expect over xmas and the new year besides finally having some down time , to relax and not be so busy , that I will enjoy having time to gather some of my thoughts and write and refect on what has been a very active and busy ( nearly 4 mths already) in the USA.

The big news thought today , Is the elections. It seems the Democratic party here has had huge success and that things are going to change here. Time will tell . There is a clear message though that can not be denied , which is that the majority of people in the USA, wish for a dramatic change in relation to the war in Iraq. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.

I am off to teach and share at Bronx Community college next week and other than this doing some writing and preparing to move on again.