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: [log in to unmask]