The Icelandic Canadian - 01.10.2002, Page 15

Vol. 57 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
57
I retired, was to get some courses in
applied anthropology .
Some of my colleagues felt that this
was a clinical field not appropriate for sci-
entific minded people. When I left the
University, many of the students signed a
petition asking that these course be kept
on the books. They succeeded and I am
very proud of that.
What is applied anthropology? Using
anthropology, our knowledge and our
skills, as researchers to not only ask basic
questions of humanity and human condi-
tions but to use them in the service of
society. I think this an important part of
anthropology today. I like to think I
played a part in this.
Historically I have never been a real
joiner. My step brother Ron and I were
very close friends. Ron, who was a clini-
cal psychologist, died about six years ago
of cancer. He once brought to my atten-
tion that I was not a joiner. I have now
become a more involved person since
moving to Gimli and having more time.
I had my professional associations. I
was a fellow of the American
Anthropology Association and also with
the Society of Applied Anthropology
International Association. I did form the
John, Stephen, Carolyn and Nancy