June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
In recognition, Prince Edward Public Library has planned a series of virtual talks. For children, a series of storytimes featuring local storytellers including librarian Brandy Brant and Karen Lewis from Tyendinaga Kanihote Public Library. Contact Joanna ([email protected]) to receive these by email. Older children may want to join us for Minecraft Club.
Every Wednesday in June at 4:30 p.m. and every Thursday in June at 4:30 p.mm, you can explore the Anishinaabe Nation using Manito Ahbee Aki – the world’s first Anishinaabe community built in Minecraft Live amongst the Anishinaabe Peoples to learn and understand how they thrived on this land together while living in harmony with Mother Earth. No paid subscription or previous Minecraft experience is required. Older children may also want to try the Indigenous games computer which we have loaded with games featuring Indigenous creators and stories as recommended by CBC. For adults, join us on June 18 at 2p.m. as Amanda Hill shares her talk entitled “Natives and Settlers: The View from the Archives”, a look at relations between Indigenous Peoples and settlers in our region as revealed by written records and physical artifacts held in archives and museums around the world.
Foodies will want to make note of the talk by Chef David Wolfman which will happen Thursday, June 24 at 2 p.m. Chef Wolfman will share a look at Indigenous culture through food. First Nations Chef Wolfman is an internationally recognized expert in traditional Indigenous cuisine, a Culinary Arts Professor at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto, Canada, a cooking television show Executive Producer and Host, and co-author of the award-winning cookbook, “Cooking with the Wolfman: Indigenous Fusion.”
On Wednesday, June 30 at 2 p.m. we will welcome Darrel J. McLeod is the author of Peyakow and Mamaskatch, which received the Govenor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. He is Cree from treaty eight territory in Northern Alberta. Before deciding to pursue writing in his retirement, McLeod was a chief negotiator of land claims for the federal government and executive director of education and international affairs with the Assembly of First Nations. He holds degrees in French literature and education from the University of British Columbia. He lives in Sooke, British Columbia. This talk will be moderated by Councillor Bill Roberts
These events will all be held online. All welcome! Register at peclibrary.org or call (613) 476-5962. If you need to borrow a device to participate, please ask us. More programs will be held throughout the year. If you have any suggestions for future programs, please contact Barbara Sweet at [email protected].
-Liz Zylstra