A man of history who dove right into the Indigenous world and culture upon his arrival to B.C. as a teenager in 1884, James Teit is the subject of an upcoming Hometown Histories Speaker Series.
Teit is the subject of Dr. Wendy Wickwire's extensive research and her latest book, At the Bridge: James Teit and an Anthropology of Belonging.
Wickwire will share her research into Indigenous history and the work of Teit at the Vernon Library Saturday, May 31, from 1 to 2 p.m.
The speaker series is presented by the Museum and Archives of Vernon and the Vernon Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society.
“We are incredibly grateful to have Dr. Wendy Wickwire join us for this special presentation. Her research deepens our understanding of Indigenous history in this region and highlights the importance of oral traditions and community knowledge," said Gwyneth Evans, Museum archives manager and secretary/treasurer of the historical society.
Wickwire is an expert in Indigenous and oral history and Northwest anthropology, as well as an Emeritus Professor at the University of Victoria. She is also the editor of Write It On Your Heart: The Epic World of an Okanagan Storyteller (with Elder Harry Robinson, a member of the Lower Similkameen Band). Her scholarship offers vital insights into the lived experiences, voices, and resistance of Indigenous peoples, and the significance of oral history in shaping understandings of the past.
The organizers respectfully acknowledge that this event takes place on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded Territory of the Syilx people. A special invitation and welcome is extended to Indigenous community members, on whose lands this presentation is taking place.
The event is free, however seating is limited to 100 on a first-come, first-served basis.
The presentation will be followed by a short question and answer session. Donations to support the Museum or Historical Society are welcome.
