Summer Study in Jamaica

Anthropology students Kara Pagel and Justin Bartlett accompanied Dr. William Wedenoja (ANT) to Jamaica for 23 days in May and June.  They were joined by Drury professor Dr. Erin Kenny (Global Studies) and Drury student Nicholas Zweifel (representing SIFE- the Students in Free Enterprise organization).  Missouri State students have been going to Jamaica with Dr. Wedenoja since 2001.  Drury and SIFE will also have programs in the same community, Bluefields, in 2008.  Their stay in Bluefields was hosted by the Bluefields Peoples Community Association (BPCA) and the Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s Friendly Society.  While in Bluefields, they participated in fishermen’s meetings and the beginning of a new housing project for the poor, helped to upgrade the computing facilities at the BPCA, continued an ongoing survey of historic sites, and initiated an oral history project.  They also made day trips to the tourist area of Negril and the Maroon community of Accompong.  Several days were spent in Kingston, residing at the University of the West Indies, and visiting the Bob Marley museum, the buccaneer capital of Port Royal, the National Gallery of Art, National Heroes Park, Hollywell National Park, and Old Tavern coffee estate in the Blue Mountains.   They conducted an extended interview in Kingston with the director of The Nature Conservancy, did an overnight visit and interviews with the Windsor Research Center in the Cockpit Country, and spent a day learning about historic preservation with Falmouth Heritage Renewal.  As you can see, this ambitious group kept a very busy schedule for their three-week stay!  (In this picture, from left to right: Nic, Justin, Kara, Jah Calo-a local Rastafarian artist, Dr. Kenny, and a bystander). 

  Anthropology Club Supports Preschool In Jamaica

The Missouri State University Anthropology Club held a successful book-and-bake sale in Spring 2007, enabling a contribution of $800 to the Bluefields Basic School in Jamaica.  The project was started by anthropology major Stephanie Finley (class of 2005), who went to Jamaica with Dr. William Wedenoja (ANT) in Summer 2003.  The school also recently added electricity and playground equipment thanks to a $2000 contribution from One World Relief, a nonprofit organization started by Anthropology major Jason Shepard. (This photograph shows Anthropology major Kim Pagel and School Principal Joy Baker holding the check.  Dr. Wedenoja is to the right.  In the background is one of the school buildings).

  

 

 Summer Field Research with Missouri State Students

Funded by a Missouri State University Faculty Research Grant, Dr. Elizabeth Sobel spent six weeks conducting anthropological field work at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, located on the southern coast of Washington State, during July and August 2007. The experience had research, management, and public outreach components. The research component explored the cultural continuity and change among the Chinookan people - a Native American cultural group. The management component provided information needed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cultural sites on Willapa Refuge. The outreach component involved documenting and synthesizing information about cultural heritage for two Native American groups with Chinookan Ancestry – the Chinook Tribe and Shoalwater Tribe.  The work conducted this summer included an archaeological field survey, oral history interviews, and archival research. Dr. Sobel was assisted by two students – Chris Cotter and Travis Scheele - both Anthropology majors. Throughout the project, Sobel and her students worked closely with members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Chinook Indian Nation. Dr. Sobel currently is analyzing collected data and plans to conduct additional fieldwork relating to this project in Summer 2008.