Jim if this is too long, feel free to trim it. Any place that you can
post it is fine with me.

Thanks a bunch.

On May 10-12, 1996, Trent University and the Canadian Canoe Museum will be
hosting CANEXUS II: The Canoe in Canadian Cultures, a multi-disciplinary
conference examining the canoe as art, artifact and symbol and dedicated
to furthering the understanding of the canoe in the development of
Canada's diverse cultural identities. The conference will explore such
themes as: the canoe in Canadian art, writing, and the media; the canoe as
a popular or spiritual symbol for English, French and Aboriginal cultures;
and the canoe as a simple but sophisticated tool with global origins.  The
list of presenters includes:

Eugene Arima, ethnologist with Parks Canada;
David Neel, a builder working to resurrect the West coast Native traditions;
Gwenyth Hoyle,Author and historian northern exploration routes;
Ralph Frese, Canoe historian on Mid-western native traditions;
Michael Ketemer, Native watercraft scholar/birchbark builder;
George Luste, Co-ordinator of the Wilderness Canoe Symposium;
Gary Potts, Former Chief Teme-Augama Anishnabai;
Phil Chester, Educator and author;
James Cullingham,Documentary film maker;
Max Finkelstein, Canadian Heritage River System;
James Raffan, Educator and author;
Bruce Hodgins, Author prof. of history, Trent University;
John Jennings, Vice -chair, Canadian Canoe Museum, Prof. of History,
Trent University;
Ken Lister, Acting Curator, Dept. of Ethnology ROM;
John Wadland, Prof. of Canadian Studies, Trent University;
Kirk Wipper, Author, Founder of the Kanawa International Canoe Collection.

The Conference is scheduled to coincide with the annual Peterborough
Heritage Canoe Festival taking place on the Trent Severn Waterway at the
famous Peterborough Lift Lock, with three days of illustrated talks and
practical demonstrations.

On Saturday afternoon, May 11th, the Canadian Canoe Museum will unveil
collection of over 500 craft at the Grand Opening Reception of the Museum
in its newly renovated conservation facilities. For the first time in the
history of the collection (formerly the Kanawa International Museum) all
the craft are in one place for viewing and conservation. Saturday evening
after the grand opening, HarperCollins Publishing will host the national
launch of author and educator Jim Raffan's new book Fire in the Bones: The
Life and Vision of Bill Mason. This is a tremendously important work on a
man whose passion for the craft inspired a unique Canadian artistic and
wilderness tradition. Following the launch there will be a Voyageur
Banquet in the Great Hall at Trent University's Champlain College. We look
forward to seeing everyone in Peterborough this spring. Information on any
of these events is available from:

Erik Hanson, Coordinator C/o The Frost Centre, Trent University
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9H 7B8 Tel: (705) 876-8433 email:
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