Audio from the Leaving a Legacy workshop held at Thistle Hall, Wellington on 14 September 2016. The workshop looked at creative ways to record and preserve our diverse identities, cultures and world views. It was organised by Tiwhanawhana and the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand (LAGANZ) and facilitated by Elizabeth Kerekere.
The first hour contained presentations from the invited speakers, followed by a workshop where participants were asked: what do we do well in Wellington? and what gaps/concerns are we aware of? A special thank you to the participants for allowing us to record and share this event.
Summary
The event titled "Leaving a Legacy," hosted at Thistle Hall in Wellington, brought together a diverse group of speakers to discuss preserving the rich tapestry of diverse identities, cultures, and world views. The workshop particularly focused on the LGBTI community and how to keep its history and stories alive through creative documentation and archiving.
During the workshop, speakers shared their personal backgrounds, their connections to their respective cultural heritages, and their roles in advocating for and preserving LGBTI history. An example highlighted was Gareth Watkins, who spoke about founding PrideNZ and the importance of ensuring the Rainbow Communities' histories are remembered and not lost within a generation. Watkins' journey within the radio industry and their subsequent initiatives to retain and share Rainbow-related material through audio recordings were particularly noteworthy.
Other discussions included the historical and modern significance of waiata as a form of preserving legacies and politics, as explored by Kevin Haunui. Linda Evans discussed the role of the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand (LAGANZ) in housing extensive collections of LGBTI material, revealing the challenges of digital preservation and the fragility of digital files. Sian Torrington shared their project "We Don't Have To Be The Building," which sought to uncover queer ancestors through activism and art, highlighting the power of creativity in documenting and sharing community stories.
Furthermore, participants Tabby Besley and Conor McLeod from InsideOUT broached the reality of how social media plays a crucial role in modern storytelling and connectivity, emphasizing its importance in sharing experiences and supporting youth in rainbow communities.
The varied contributions pointed to the vital need for strategic planning and collective action in recording, archiving, and broadcasting the stories and experiences of the LGBTI community. The workshop underscored the significance of peer-to-peer interviewing, acknowledging the diversity within the community, and aiding various groups in creating their narratives through training and support.
Participants were urged to think about future strategies, focusing on community care to prevent burnout, enhancing visibility for marginalized voices, and considering the implications of digital and social media use for legacy preservation. The event concluded with a recognition of the imperative to unite against common causes and address internal conflicts constructively.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
Voices
Tags
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Tags (computer generated)
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