6 Questions in 6 Minutes(ish)

Trees with question marks spray painted on them

Jean-Pierre Morin has started a YouTube series dedicated to Public Historians sharing their work. The series asks public historians six questions: 1-      Who are you?2-      How did you end up where you are?3-      What’s the nature of your work?4-      What do you enjoy most about your work?5-      What’s the biggest challenge in your work?6-      What keeps you motivated?  And lets folks … Continue reading 6 Questions in 6 Minutes(ish)

Material Culture Theme Week

This week over on Activehistory.ca we are sharing the Material Culture Theme week I had the joy of editing. This week brings together folks who work with material culture both inside and outside academia. The week is filled with posts on textiles, learning with material culture, family connections to making, and cultural meaning attached to … Continue reading Material Culture Theme Week

Crafting Communities Workshop

art studio supplies on shelves

Prior to the world going to hell, I participated in a wonderful six days of professional development put on by Thinking Rock Community Arts and Jumblies Theatre. Titled "Crafting Communities" this workshop was based on Jumblies well-known Artfare Essentials training which is focused on skill building connected to community arts facilitation. "Crafting Communities" focused on … Continue reading Crafting Communities Workshop

Finding Memories in Textiles

Close up photo of fabric patches

Another textile post. I know, I know. But I am finding a lot of joy in thinking about the ways in textiles intersect with history. I'm working on a project that has me re-purposing old fabrics. This has included working with everything from old shirts to off cuts from sewing projects to found fabric household … Continue reading Finding Memories in Textiles

Preserving and Listening to Soundscapes

Closeup of a sound board

The BBC recently ran a podcast series called Forest 404. The podcast is set in a futuristic 24th Century, in a time after a massive data crash and in a era in which forests and much of the natural world no longer exist. I initially started listening to Forest 404 because the protagonist is voiced … Continue reading Preserving and Listening to Soundscapes

Tri-University Annual History Conference Keynote

Title slide for talk

I am delighted to share that I was the keynote at the Tri-University Annual History Conference on March 9, 2019 in Guelph.  The theme for this year's conference was "In Small and Large Things Remembered’: Material Culture and History.” My talk, "Remaking Narratives: Community Archives and Residential School Photographs" focused on the the development of a … Continue reading Tri-University Annual History Conference Keynote

Celebrating the Accomplishments of Women and Non-Binary Historians in 2018

Celebrating Women and Non-Binary Historians on yellow background

In 2017, archaeologist Steph Halmhofer issued a call for submission for the first "Celebration of Women and Non-Binary Archaeologists." The call was a response to the lack of women and non-binary representation in year-end archaeology roundups, as well as problems with representation in the media and public discourse. We have noticed many of the same … Continue reading Celebrating the Accomplishments of Women and Non-Binary Historians in 2018

Year In Review: 2018

"2018" written with a sparkler

It’s December! That means it is annual year end reflection time. As in previous years I’m going to use this post remind myself of all the things I did over the past year.  A year is a long time and accomplishments tend to be immediately celebrated and then forgotten in the hustle of the day-to-day chaos.  I … Continue reading Year In Review: 2018

Art + Feminism in the Soo

Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit A Thon written in blue of yellow background. Poster.

Last week I helped organize an Art+Feminism edit-a-thon in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  Art+Feminism is a "campaign improving coverage of cis and transgender women, feminism, and the arts on Wikipedia." This year marks the fifth year of the Art+Feminism initiative and since 2014 edit-a-thons have taken place around the world, improving over 11,000 articles in … Continue reading Art + Feminism in the Soo