みなさん、土曜日にユーコンのリンダから下記のメッセージが届いてました。今日それを見ましたので、とりあえず要点だけを能力の範囲でお伝えします。
妙子さん。このメッセージを和訳してMLに流して下さいますか?よろしくお願いいたします。
みなさんにこのメッセージを書くのに、気持ちの整理が要ったそうです。今回十分な資金を得られなかったことと、これまで数カ月みなさんに支援してもらったことに対し、終止自分の力無さを詫びています。まだ、こういう申請に詳しい人たちのアドバイスを受けて、助成を受ける努力は続けるようです。リンダ、キース、エド・スマーチの3人に絞っての来日の可能性もある。
このように、可能性は残っているということですが、先日お伝えした通り現時点での判断は必要だと思います。このメッセージを今回4月に予定していたNCFNI企画のキャンセルと受け取りたいと思います。現在、MLに登録頂いている37名のみなさまには、私、かわじりより深くお詫び申し上げます。ワクワクして取組んで下さった企画が、期待した通りに開催できなくなったことは、ボクが最初に完全事情を把握しないままみなさまを巻き込んでしまったことに原因があります。
ただ、実花さんは、可能性があるのならアースデイもアイヌ交流も事情を説明して、参加の可能性を探っていても良いとリンダに返事をしています。これに関しては、実花さんの判断にお任せします。
それでもですよ、みなんが初めに興味を持ってくださった気持ちと、ユーコンとアトリンから日本を訪れたいというリンダとファーストネーション気持ちには、何ら変わることはないものと思っています。外部の方には「なんで日本に来たいの?」「ビジネスってどういう意味?金儲け?」「ホントに先住民の代表なの?」などと憶測をなさる方もあるとも聞きました。ここでも自分の情報仲立ちの役不足を痛感しています。ボクは、今ここに集まって下さった方々とは、「友だち」という信頼関係を介して集っていると思っています。それぞれの方が、何か共通する価値観を持っているから、この交流に期待をし、又と力を貸して下さるのだと思っています。それは、カナダの人たちも同じでしょう。ボクが兄弟のように思っているキースはいうに及ばず、リンダの志は尊敬に値すると思っています。現に、ユーコンのネイティブではない彼女の呼びかけに、これだけたくさんのファーストネーションのアーティストが応えています。ユーコン・ファーストネーションのグランドチーフ、アトリンのタクリバーのグランドチーフ、グランドチーフ観光局の理事のミータはNCFNI実行委員会にも加わっています。
「初めの一歩」は上手く踏み出せずにいます。これは、単に政府との交渉ごとやビジネスに不馴れなために目測を過った程度のことではないでしょうか?ここで諦めれば、微かなつながりを育み始めたこのイニシアティブは、そこまでです。いかがですか?「まだ興味ある」という方もいらっしゃるでしょうか?この際、問題点の洗い出しも有り難いです。参加して下さい。ボクは、来るんだったらいつでも交流の準備をしたいと思っていますし、折角こうして同じ興味を持った人も輪が出来たのだから、これを育てていけたら「面白いのになぁ」と、性懲りもなく思っています。
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From: "Linda Bonnefoy"
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 13:28:44 -0800
Subject: Results of submissions
Hello Everyone,
Please forgive me for the delay in composing this letter, I needed a couple of days to reflect on our initiative. We received confirmation on Wednesday afternoon that Canada Arts Council refused our travel grant due to the overwhelming emphasis on Economic Development in our proposal. Louise advocated for us in Ottawa however the panel decided that this was 'economically market driven' and did not reflect the criteria of 'exhibitions for the advancement of artistic skill and development'.
The week before in our meeting with Dennis Zimmerman from Economic Development we were told the proposal was too vague and required additional information. It did not qualify or meet the criteria of any of their programs as we were unable to demonstrate a commercial or economic feasibility projection. I shared their conclusions with Louise Profeit Leblanc and she responded that this was ridiculous as the entire proposal 'is' economically driven. She will compose a letter supporting the Canada Council's panel decision that we can attach to our proposal if we wish to resubmit it to the Economic Development Department of YTG. Louise concluded our discussion by encouraging us to reapply; however, reinforcing that Canada Council will only support an application to 'cultural exchange' with the Ainu and not Motherland as the Ainu are the traditional people of Japan.
We had a small steering committee meeting on Tuesday. We decided at this time to develop a three page concept paper for Meta to bring into the communities to solicit support for our initiative. We will also tighten up the existing proposal by amalgamating the three separate projects, preparing an executive summary and rewriting the budget to reflect a smaller group going to Japan.
I think that we should try to arrange for myself, Keith and Ed to go over. I do agree with David, Hiro and Mika that people need to meet me albeit I am humiliated that I had not been able to deliver our mandate on the scale that we had so desired. Thank you everyone for your gracious words of support however I am feeling that I did let everyone down and I am truly apologetic for that!
I was in another meeting yesterday where it was suggested that we take our initiative into the public and political arena using the media to illuminate the seeming 'resistance' from the government to assist us. The group leader that I met with works for First Nations business people that are disgruntled with the department of Economic Development at YTG. They would like to form a task force that would call for an audit into the spending of the department and evidence of 'their' commitment to First Nations economic development initiatives outside of what they funnel into bureaucratic positions for individual communities. I contacted leaders in the First Nations community and asked them their advise as we have a strong group who will obviouslyadvocate for us, however controversially. The advise that I received was that we put together the concept paper, strengthen the proposal and circulate it to First Nations bands and corporations. Although it looks like a position of opportunity to take the government to task in the election year we could possibly undo all of the hard work we have done in the last year. I really would like everyone's input as it is necessary to regroup and develop our next phase of strategy.
Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for all of their commitment and hard work. I believe that a path will open for this initiative to blossom within. I would not be offended if any of you decide that you have contributed enough already to this initiave and would like to withdraw. I know many of you have put in hundreds of unpaid hours and I do sincerely thank each and all for your vision and commitment. Please forgive me as with my enthusiasm and passion for social and environmental change that I had not consider that it was going to be so difficult to access funding. For any embarrassment I have caused my friends with Motherland and Earthday in Japan- Mika, Dave and Hiro I am very sorry.
Sincerely,
Linda