And more planning

I've just submitted the research grant in lieu of salary application form. Essentially, this can make a portion of my monthly salary tax free during my leave. Having a bit more money each month will go a long way to helping with travel costs. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Planning

Since receiving approval for my leave, I've started to contact people in Australia and New Zealand. I'm hoping to meet with librarians, faculty and students when I'm there for 3 months in the new year. I've explored university web sites for schools that offer Indigenous Studies programmes and/or Education programmes, or some combination thereof. There are many down under. During the last 3 months of my leave, I want to visit select schools and libraries in British Columbia and for good measure, attend a 4-day institute for Tribal Librarians in Montana in June.

Everything is connected to everything else. I have this written on a small note which I've posted to my office telephone.

So far, I've met with UVic's CRC Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Learning to ask for her advice about my leave, and she gave me invaluable ideas and suggestions for who to meet. I've started a literature review to learn more about First Nations education and library services. I've made a lovely connection with a librarian in Sydney (through our University Librarian) who is helping me to meet the authors of some of those articles I've been reading. I've signed up for two conferences in November and December: the First Nations Education Steering Committee Conference on Aboriginal Education (where the FNESC is currently under the leadership of the graduate student who got me started) and the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education where I will be fortunate to meet people who were suggested to me by our CRC Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Learning. Which brings me back to planning and which I need to go do now.