2006 Preview!
The following is a tentative look at some of what the 2006 Free School will feature. Everything is subject to change. Get your proposals in now!
Schedule
View the schedule for the 2006 Free School
Keynotes
Working Life in the Belly of the Empire: Employment in the Maritimes
Thom Workman is a political science professor at UNB, teaching courses on literature and politics, alternative political communities, alienation, modern political theory, political leadership, and conflict studies.
Two Years in Baghdad: Iraq before, during and after
Journalist Jack Fairweather served as the Daily Telegraph's Baghdad bureau chief for two years documenting some stories that made the news, and some stories that didn't. He has written for Mother Jones, Harpers and the New Internationalist and is currently writing a book entitled Love in Baghdad. Cancelled for the moment, unfortunately
Gender, Human Rights and Guatemalan Solidarity
Wendy Mendez's mother was tortured and disappeared from her house in Guatemala when Wendy was only a child . Wendy has gone on to found HIJOS (Children of the disappeared) in Guatemala. Amanda Quiche was in her fourth year of law school (one of only a handful of Mayan women to be there) when she and her family were forced to claim refugee status in Canada.
Food
Local (in most cases, from the farm) and organic by
- Jason Dionne
- Meghan MacCulloch
- Norma Jean Macphee
...with our help!
Music
Performances every night, usually followed by a jam later on.
- Abigail Lapell (Montreal)
- Catherine Maclellan (Prince Edward Island)
- David Myles (Fredericton/Halifax)
- Tyler Messick and Andy March (Halifax)
Films
Workshops:
Paddle Making
Jason Dionne, a canoe maker and wood worker, will guide participants in the making of a paddle that they can take home. This workshop is being capped at 3 people and a cost of $10 will cover the FSC certified wood to create the paddle. Please email jason.a.dionne at maine.edu if you're interested.
Stars and Stories
Meghan MacCulloch has a fancy telescope and imagines that her workshop will probably be the only one offered at the freeschool where winged horses, giant scorpions and princess eating sea monsters will be discussed. Weather permitting, this workshop will take place under the summer night sky.Physical Theatre
Sarah Cormier and participants will use movement exercises and choral singing to touch on the ideas of impulse, gesture and extra-daily movement, as well as the playful relationship between performers.
Theatre and Activism - Théâtre d'intervention
Nik Basque and Tim Murphy, cofounders of Monkeytown Theatre Collective, will facilitate this highly interactive workshop that will explore having fun and being heard using several different political and activist theatrical models.
Zine Making
Sarah Evans & Sonia Edworthy, co-owners of the Anchor Archive Zine Library in Halifax, will talk about media - both corporate and independent - and how zines offer a radical alternative to mainstream media models. The workshop will include a hands-on segment on do-it-yourself zine making.
Good Dog
Alex Keir, along with helpful canine volunteers, will demonstrate a kinder, gentler approach to living with dogs.The Secrets of good Chai
The perfect cup of chai (Indian tea) has all to do with the chai maker and their recipe. Shaani and Kaia Singh will demonstrate their masala (spiced) chai using such ingredients as ginger, fennel, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and brown sugar.
The Politics of Breastfeeding
It's free, it's healthy, it's empowering, it's nurturing, it's natural, and unfortunately - for the Nestle's of the world it's - non-proprietary. Karen Sheppard will examine the many benefits of breastfeeding while learning about the undermining of breastfeeding mothers across the world by large multinationals and the medical profession.
Seed-saving: Biodiversity meets politics
Cammie Harbottle will help people learn the how to grow plants for seed-saving, explore harvesting and preservation techniques and will discuss why this is a political act.
Wicked Messenger: Tangled Up in Bob Dylan's Bible
In the late 1970's Bob Dylan shocked most of his fans by producing 3 overtly Christian albums. To many, this was a dramatic departure from his earlier work, while others argue that this was just another step in the long spiritual journey of Bob Dylan that has spanned over 40 years. Listen with Dylan fan Av Singh to songs that resonate the teachings of the "old" and "new" testament.
Seminars:
Making Noise, Making Trouble
Montreal performer Abigail Lappell will explore performance, gender and musicality in the intimidating gee-tar scene.
The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline: The Berger Inquiry and the last time around
Wilf Bean will help put the current opposition to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline in a historical perspective. Wilf worked with First Nations to oppose the pipeline when it was first proposed in the 1970s. He will recount this time with slides and stories.
Co-Sleeping
Ume Hermanski, mother and co-sleeping advocate, will examine the controversy of co-sleeping and discuss why she thinks it's a key part of raising happy, healthy, confident children.
Reinventing "Anti-Poverty:" Halifax Coalition Against Poverty
Cole Webber, founding member of the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty, will explore poverty, oppression, direct-action, and finding anti-poverty organizing models that work.
War & Peace: How the Militarization of our Society is Killing People and the Planet
Tamara Lorincz, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Environmental Network will discuss how the militarization of our economy, government, schools and communities is undermining our ability to realize our dreams of a sustainable, just and peaceful world. The lecture will be followed by an open discussion and an action component.
Nanotechnology: The good, the bad and the really really small
Yuill Herbert has been following the progress in the extremely lucrative - and unregulated - field of Nanotechnology and will discuss why he thinks society should be keeping closer tabs on nanotechnology.
Locally owned currencies
Rob Assels, coordinator of the Northumberland Notes, a hugely successful alternative currency in Tatamagouche, will talk about how local currencies work, and how to start your own.
Monitoring our forests
This workshop will engage participants in establishing a long-term forest monitoring plot in Waldegrave farm's woods. Heather Anderchuck will guide participants in identifying and tagging tree species and measuring indicators of long-term forest health.
Discussion Groups:
Each morning, the Free School begins with discussion groups. These rely heavily on the people involved, so please come with ideas in mind, and email us with your ideas ahead of time if at all possible. Also: bring relevant reading material to share.
The following list are some suggestions cooked up by the Free School committee:
- Free School: The Next Five Years
- Music
- The Conservative Government
- The Progressive Agenda: What plan?
- Decolonization in Canada
- Unhappiness, depression and the diagnosis of mental illness
- Religion and Liberation
- Sex Positivity
- Academia in the World
We need yours. Send in suggestions.