History, Film, Poetry Presented During Canada Week 2007 at UMaine
Contact: Betsy Arntzen, (207) 581- 4225; Tom Weber, (207) 581-3777
ORONO — The University of Maine Canadian-American Center invites the public to an entertaining and informative exploration of Canadian history, politics, culture and Native studies education during Canada Week 2007.
Now in its 28th year, Canada Week was established to bring attention to Canadian studies at UMaine by highlighting research done by faculty and graduate students, while also providing Maine teachers with an opportunity to enhance their professional development. A Canada-in-the-Classroom workshop will assist teachers in implementing LD 291, the state law requiring schools to incorporate Native American history and culture into their curricula.
The program, sponsored by the UMaine Canadian-American Center with support from Foreign Affairs Canada, will consist of four main events, each free and open to the public. Refreshments or a box lunch will be provided at two of the programs, and those who attend are asked to make reservations by calling Nancy Strayer at the center at 581-4220.
Laurier Turgeon, a history professor at Laval University in Quebec, will kick off the program on Oct. 30 with an illustrated lecture based on his study of French notarial records and maps that reveal a significant French presence in the Gulf of Maine from the 1560s onward. His talk, “French Fishers and Fur Traders in the Gulf of Maine during the second half of the 16th Century,” runs 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Alfond Family Lounge.
The Alice R. Stewart Graduate Lectures begin at 12:15 p.m., Nov. 6, at the Alfond Family Lounge. Stephen Hornsby, a professor of geography and Canadian Studies and director of the Canadian-American Center, will speak on “Imperial Power, Enlightenment Science, and the Making of the Atlantic Neptune nautical atlas.” Canadian Studies graduate researcher Mary Okin will talk on “‘Madness’ in Quebec Women, 1890-1940: An Analysis of Women’s Ambivalence Toward Culturally Prescribed Sexual Roles,” followed by Adrienne Pelletier Pidacks on “Performing Evangeline in Grand Pre.”
As part of a two-day tribute to poet Rita Joe, the Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Lunch Series will present a panel discussion Nov. 7, 12:15-1:30 p.m., in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union, on “Gentle Warrior for Peace: Tribute to Rita Joe, Mik’maq-Canadian Poet Laureate, 1932-2007.” Also on Nov. 7, in the Bangor Room, award-winning Mi’kmaw filmmaker Catherine Martin will show and discuss one of her films at 2:10 p.m., another at 3:10 and another at 4:10. Her films include documentaries about inspired Native artists, Mi’kmaw society and an historic open-ocean canoe voyage. That evening, 7:30-9:30 p.m., those who knew Rita Joe will share stories about her and readings of her poetry at the Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Hall.
Canada Week 2007 also includes a K-12 teachers workshop, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. in the Woolley Room of the Doris Twitchell Allen Village Community Center, in which Martin uses her films and experience to put into context the life of the late poet Rita Joe and her place in contemporary Mi’kmaw society and culture. Paul Deagle, a high school English teacher from Skowhegan, will explain how he uses Joe’s poetry in the classroom.