Hilo, Hawai`i
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Indigenous Women and Sustainable Cultural Eco-Tourism
workshop by
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
Coordinated by
Hālau Namohala o Hāla`i
&
Yuen Media Services
 

    Indigenous women, so often the custodians of their cultures, are ever more pressed into providing economic support for their families. Often we are told that to “make it” we must re-mold ourselves on a Western male-dominated model, giving up our cultural heritage and applying only linear and analytical skills learned in formal institutions.
   But, some women are finding that their greatest strengths lie in their understanding of their cultural heritage, and their ability to share it with other people, including people from other places and cultures.
   This June, Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow [left, center] will facilitate workshops and a field practicum exploring a variety of topics designed to help indigenous women create and/or strengthen home-based cultural eco-tourism businesses.
   Women who run or would like to run a sustainable, eco-friendly, culturally appropriate business related to the tourism industry are invited to attend these workshops. 

   Some of the topics we will explore are: 

 *  Being true to ourselves – when does sharing the culture become selling it out?

 *  How do we balance what visitors expect with authenticity?

 *  How do we balance “the bottom line” with cultural integrity?

Who is Denise?

    Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow’s career has leapt like a wild goat from music teacher to buffalo shooter to biologist, guide, lecturer, cross-cultural consultant, author, and illustrator. A member of the Kunwinjku peoples of NW Arnhem Land, she is the family snake-catcher and a dab hand at catching pigs with a castnet! She also mediates in times of family trouble. Lawungkurr, a name given to her by the clan matriarchs is the name of a long-dead but still highly honoured woman of her clan. Denise has worked as interpreter/transcriber on the Lonely Planet's Guide to Aboriginal Australia. She also lectures in environmental studies for the University of  New South Wales.  www.DeniseGoodfellow.com

The Workshops 

Wednesday, June 3 -  Dancing for the Yankee Dollar
   This workshop begins at 11:00 am at the Palace Theater in Hilo with a performance of Hawai`iana Live!, a Hawaiian-style variety show at the Palace Theater in Hilo. After the show participants will walk to Kalākaua Park (assuming good weather) to discuss and explore ways of combating the “cultural curiosity” label to humanize both the host and the guest.  Also explores the roles of women and children in cultural/eco-tourism.

Wednesday Afternoon, June 3 -  Authenticity vs. Accessibility: Reaching out in a crowd
   Builds upon "Dancing" and includes practicum walking tour of Downtown Hilo.  Visitors and hosts wish to be treated as more than cogs in a wheel.  This workshop examines tours and guides that went wrong, and the consequences for tourism and women if tourism remains superficial. Explores values as necessities for survival.

Thursday Morning, June 4  - Birds, mermaid spirits, and Little Daddies: Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land, Australia
   Lecture on the birds and other wildlife of Australia’s Top End, giving both an Indigenous and visitor’s perspective, and building upon similarities between peoples rather than differences. Disscussion of applications to Hawai`i eco-tourism. This workshop will be held at a beach park. No lifeguard available. Attendees must be responsible for their own safety and their children's safety.

Thursday Afternoon, June 4 -  Little Daddy
    In the lecture portion Denise explains how the Indigenous people of Australia’s Top End give their young children some responsibility for even younger children. This is how children learn to become competent parents and responsible members of society.  Discussion explores lessons for the wider society. Right, Little Daddy Rowan, aged five, and his children. 

Friday, June 5 - Birdwatching in Australia's Top End - Applicatons for Hawai`i
   Covers some of the same ground as Thursday's workshop, but goes into the safety aspect, often ignored by some birdwatchers and adventure travelers. Includes birdwatching practice tour, rugged terrain. Attendees should be physically fit. 

Saturday morning, June 6 -  The Forest - Living Altar of Laka
    To reinforce the importance of community service and kuleana, this full day workshop includes morning volunteer work at Kaulana Manu Bird Sanctuary, native plant identification, bird watching.

Saturday afternoon, June 6 - Haki Pu o Ka Nahele - Harvesting for Lei
    Morning session is a prerequisite to attend this one. Protocols and harvesting techniques for making traditional Hawaiian lei.

The Details

 WHEN: lectures and workshops are June 3-8. They are hands-on, and on location, so plan to spend the day. Specific times will be announced with the locations. 

WHERE: Most lectures and workshops will be held in the Hilo district. Specific locations of workshops will be determined depending on the number of registered participants and the predicted weather.
   Most lectures and workshops will be held out of doors. Haumana (students/attendees) will kokua (help) the workshop site by weeding, cleaning, or other work. 

HOW MUCH: $30 per lecture or workshop or $75 for the entire series. A limited number of work-study openings are available.
    Make checks payable to “Yuen Media Services.”  Students are expected to join Na Ala Hele as volunteers and kōkua with a trail maintenance day in  Saturday's workshop.

LUNCH: Brown-bag lunch.

ATTIRE: Suitable for hiking/yardwork. Bring a pū`olo (bag) with water, towel, lunch, notepad, pen/pencil, mat or towel to sit on, and spare shoes or slippers.

CHILDREN: Kamali`i welcome! Please feel free to bring your children, but do remind them to be respectful of the speakers, other attendees, and the sites. Children should have their own pū`olo of items. The adults bringing the children take full responsibility for them. Additional childcare is not available.

More Information: Phone 1-808-217-9924 or e-mail  YuenLeilehua (at) Yahoo (dot) com.

    Ka`ahele Hawai`i  is an electronic magazine of Hawai`i Island. We hope to provide material of interest and usefulness to readers both on and off Ka Moku Hawai`i. It is currently under development as the first website designed and managed by Yuen Media Services. We would like to invite YOU, the reader, to participate in the development of this site. Please let us know of any suggestions you may have to make this site more useful and enjoyable. Mahalo, Leilehua Yuen.