At the ATHE conference that convened in Orlando in August 2013, several of us met and explored the possibility of creating an ATHE focus group on Indigenous Performances (Thank you to all who attended)! During this meeting we considered whether there is a need for a focus group, how it might serve our discipline and the ATHE organization, and what the steps in trying to establish the group might be. What came out of the conversation was an expressed desire to build a network first and re-visit the topic of a focus group once the network has grown, both in strength and numbers.
In discussing the network, we established that it would be useful in connecting scholars in order to discuss research, as well as to notify each other of conference and performance opportunities in which individuals may want to participate. Furthermore, if there are several of us attending the same conference, we could connect beforehand to plan to meet up at the conference, support each others’ presentations, etc. Finally, we discussed trying to organize panels to present at ATHE 2014. This latter objective is one on which we are currently working.
We have created (with the much-appreciated assistance of Stefani’s husband!) a Google Group to host our network. Here is the link to join the group: http://groups.google.com/group/IndigenousPerformanceResearchGroup. Please feel free to encourage others to join!
Thank you for your interest and support in this endeavor. We are excited about the support and desire you all have expressed in creating a network through which we may share and co-produce new knowledge, understandings, perspectives, and relationships.
Thank you!
Heidi L. Nees & Stefani Overman-Tsai
