REPORT FOR 2005

The members of this year’s PISF committee were Kathy Creely, Christine Jourdan, and Coordinator Paul Shankman. Kathy served as a representative of the ASAO Board, and Christine continued as the ASAO member-at-large. Jan Rensel provided invaluable administrative support.

For this year’s meeting in Lihu’e, 6 travel grant awardees and 27 PISF mini-grant awardees were able to attend. In fact, Pacific Islanders were a major presence at the 2005 meeting, participating in and organizing several different sessions. This year’s awards were as follows:

PISF TRAVEL AWARDS

Property and Ecology
1) Malia Talakai (The Netherlands) [also in Intellectual Property Rights; Pacific Research)]

The New Voyagers: Pacific Artists in the Global Art World
2) Vince Reyes (Guam)
3) Ake Lianga (Victoria, BC)
4) Tusiata Avia (Christchurch, NZ)
5) Shigeyuki Kihara (Auckland, NZ)

Pacific and Hawai‘i Web Sites: Archiving Strategies and Issues
6) Imengel Mad (Palau)

PISF MINI-GRANTS

The New Voyagers: Pacific Artists in the Global Art World
1) Rosanna Raymond (London, England)
2) Konousi Aisake (Vancouver, BC)

AIDS in Oceania
3) Anita Jowitt (Fiji) [also in Research in Vanuatu: Past, Present and Future]
4) Herick Aeno (PNG)

Crosstalk: Dialectics with the “Me” of West Papua
5) Octovianus Mote (US)

Moanan (Polynesian) Concept and Practice of Ta and Va, "Time and Space"
6) ‘Okusitino Mahina (NZ) (also in Indigenous Anthropology; Pacific Research)
7) Tevita Ka‘ili (US) (also in Indigenous Anthropology; Polynesian Modernity)
8) Unasa Va‘a (Samoa) (also in Polynesian Modernity)
9) Lea Lani Kinikini (Hawai‘i) (also in Indigenous Anthropology)
10) Rochelle Fonoti (Hawai’i)

Indigenous Anthropology in/of Oceania
[besides those listed above:]
11) Ty Tengan (Hawai‘i)
12) Katerina Teaiwa (Hawai‘i)
13) Hokulani Aikau (Hawai‘i)
14) Kapono Chong-Hanssen (Hawai‘i)
15) Lahela Perry (Hawai‘i)
16) Sean Naleimaile (Hawai‘i)
17) Hinanui Cauchois (Hawai‘i)
18) Kali Fermantez (Hawai‘i)
19) Dennis Chun (Hawai‘i)
20) Maile Andrade (Hawai‘i)
21) Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui, (Hawai‘i)
22) Terri Leo Mauu (NZ)
23) G. Ku'ulei Reyes Tengan (Hawai‘i)
24) Elizabeth Rago Tekaha (US)
25) Brandon Ledward (Hawai‘i)

Issues of Representation, Identity, and Empowerment in Oceanic Film 26) Michelle Tupou (NZ)

Issues and Challenges in Pacific Research
27) Nuhisifa Williams(NZ)

FINANCIAL SUPPORT BY MEMBERS

In addition to an allocation of $4 per dues-paying member ($1,336.00 in 2004), PISF is supported by member contributions, which totaled $3,935.46 between December 1, 2003, and December 30, 2004. Individual donations ranged from just a few dollars to much larger amounts. These contributions allowed PISF to award a larger than usual number of grants this year. Several members continue to send their royalties checks for Pacific-related publications; others send donations in memory of deceased colleagues. Many thanks to all for your continuing support! (Remember that because ASAO is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, your contributions are tax-deductible in the US.)

PERSONAL OUTREACH BY ASAO SESSION ORGANIZERS

Our efforts as an association to fully incorporate Pacific Islands scholars into our meetings go well beyond financial donations. Session organizers play a key role in encouraging Pacific Islander participation and facilitating PISF applications. This year session organizers again helped their participants arrange transportation and, in some cases, accommodation. Although this year there were no complimentary rooms, there were a limited number of reduced room rates available and session organizers helped facilitate room arrangements.

Once travel awards are granted, session organizers should know the scholar’s itinerary, make sure that ticketing and visa arrangements are taken care of well before the meetings, and provide the scholar with information on ground transportation to and from the airport. Organizers should inform the PISF Coordinator of the scholar’s itinerary, accommodation plans, and any problems that might arise as the meetings approach. Organizers should also introduce scholars from their sessions to members and encourage them to attend other sessions that might be of interest.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PISF ARE:

1) To incorporate greater Pacific Islander perspective and voice in ASAO meetings, primarily in working sessions and symposia.
2) To support and advance the professional development of junior Pacific Islander scholars.
3) To increase Pacific Islander membership in the Association.
4) To increase Pacific Islander contributions and leadership in the Association.

2005–2006 SELECTION GUIDELINES FOR PISF TRAVEL AWARDS

The PISF committee selects individuals for awards based on the following criteria/emphases:
1) We place priority on participation in Working Sessions; next on those in Symposia; but participants in Informal Sessions are also welcome to apply.
2) We prefer to fund younger scholars and graduate students who may have difficulty accessing institutional funds.
To the extent possible given the availability of funds, the PISF travel award will cover the awardee’s round-trip airfare and conference fee. PISF awardees will also be given one year’s complimentary membership in ASAO.
Institutional cost-sharing will promote the fund’s effectiveness in accomplishing its objectives and is therefore strongly encouraged. The granting of awards, however, will not be contingent on the availability of institutional cost-sharing.

MINI-GRANTS

Because ASAO meeting venues shift annually and PISF funds are limited, we can maximize funding support by identifying Pacific Islander scholars studying at institutions in close proximity to the meeting site in addition to bringing PI scholars from distant locales. PI scholars who contribute presentations to ASAO sessions are eligible for registration fee waivers (“mini-grants”) simply through the request of the session organizer. Organizers should submit the participant's name, contact information, and areas of interest to the PISF committee chair by no later than January 7, 2006.

PISF APPLICATION

Download the application form in pdf format, or request it from the new PISF committee chair, Keith Chambers. (The new board representative is Dorothy Counts; Jane Barnwell will serve as a member-at-large on the committee.) In addition to an abstract for the scholar's paper or presentation for an ASAO session, the application form asks for the scholar’s basic contact information; an economy round-trip airfare quote (for purposes of estimating award); and three letters: one from the applicant, one from the session organizer, and one from the applicant’s supervisor (or colleague). Each letter should address the scholar’s potential contributions to the session and how participation fits into the scholar’s professional development. Send completed applications and letters to:

Keith Chambers, 715 Pennyslvania Ave, Ashland OR 97520 USA;
tel: (541) 482-3179; fax: (541) 552-6439 (c/o Anne Chambers);
e-mail <anekiti2004@yahoo.com>

PISF APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

PISF AWARD NOTIFICATION DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2005