Book Launch with Larry Loyie this Saturday at the Museum

This Saturday, February 8, 2014, from 2 to 4 pm, the Museum is pleased to host Larry Loyie and his partner Constance Brissenden. Larry will be launching his newest book, "The Moon Speaks Cree" which tells the story of a young boy named Lawrence. Throughout the book and throughout the seasons, Lawrence learns many traditional Aboriginal lessons. Our first blog entry about this launch gives a greater view of the book and the author, and can be located here.

Larry and Constance will be bringing copies of all of Larry's books for sale. They are happy to sign copies and answer questions.

The Museum is located at 10302, 99 Street in Peace River. For more information please call the Museum at 780-624-4261.

This event is free. We hope to see everyone there.

Book Launch with author Larry Loyie

The Museum is honoured to host author Larry Loyie for a book launch of his most recent children's book "The Moon Speaks Cree: A Winter Adventure", on February 8, 2014 from 2 - 4 pm.

The Moon Speaks Cree (Theytus, 2013) is a winter adventure, a traditional time of family, learning and imagination, when toboggan dogs were part of everyday life. Based on Larry Loyie's traditional Cree childhood, the story teaches deeper lessons: respect for culture and history, the effect of change on Aboriginal people, and the importance of being good to animals.

Larry Loyie was born in Slave Lake, Alberta. He lived a traditional Cree life until he was nine years old, learning from his elders, many of whom he has written about in his children's books. From the age of nine to 14, Larry Loyie attended St. Bernard Mission residential school in Grouard, Alberta. At 14, he entered the work force, fighting fires, working in an oil camp and a mountain sawmill. At age 55, he returned to school to achieve a lifelong ambition of becoming a writer.

Larry Loyie is an invaluable resource on the history of residential schools in Canada. He is a survivor who has spent many years researching and writing about this hidden chapter in Canadian history. He also visits school classrooms.

Larry Loyie (Cree name: Oskiniko/Young Man) and his partner, writer and editor, Constance Brissenden have worked together since 1993. They created Living Traditions Writers Group to encourage writing within First Nations communities. Visit their website at http://firstnationswriter.com/.

Larry and Constance will bring copies of all their books to the Museum book launch. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak with them and to pick up copies for your family or your classroom.

Author Larry Loyie will join us on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 2 - 4 pm to launch his new book. 

OTHER TITLES BY LARRY LOYIE        Goodbye Buffalo Bay      
When the Spirits Dance       The Gathering Tree        As Long as the Rivers Flow        Two Plays About Residential School
The Healing, a Memoir for Four Voices        The Wind Cannot Read

Book reading and signing with Dianne Ireland

Dianne Ireland’s recently published book “Grandmama’s Treasured Favorites & Traditional Recipes” is filled with interesting stories and tasty recipes. These recipes may be those that Dianne’s family has made for years, but all of her readers will find a recipe or a story that evokes a memory for them of their own family traditions. Perhaps it’s the Christmas Eggnog, maybe the beef stew, or even Dianne’s story of hunting for the first and only time.

Dianne was born in Peace River and grew up on a farm east of Grimshaw, Alberta. Dianne married Jim in 1968 and together they have had a great life with their children and now their grandchildren.

Writing and publishing this book has given Dianne an opportunity to share many stories as well as favorite and traditional recipes with not only her family and friends, but also anyone else who enjoys cooking or baking for their loved ones.

Join us this Saturday, December 14^th, 2013, from 2 – 4 pm at the Peace River Museum, where Dianne will regale us with stories and recipes. Dianne's book is available in the Museum gift shop for $39.95. The gift shop accepts cash or cheque only. 

Thank you to our speakers!

The Museum has been very fortunate to have two fantastic speakers over the last week. Both talented, informative, and fun speakers!

Eric Moller and Stephanie Capyk of Cardinal Creek Honey graced us with their sweet presence last Saturday, August 10th. They regaled us with stories of beekeeping and the various practices used in beekeeping.

Last night, August 15th, Teresa Griffith joined us to tell tales from her new book "York Boat Captain: 18 Life-Changing Days on the Peace River". Through laughter, stories, and fun, Captain Overboard (as she is sometimes known) shared some of her time on the Peace River with her audience, just enough to entice us to buy the book and read it for ourselves.  

Teresa Griffith signing her book for a fan. 

"York Boat Captain" Book Launch with Teresa Griffith

Have you ever met an author who was also a York boat captain? No? Well, after you meet Captain Teresa Griffith, you will no longer be able to say that.

Teresa had the audacity to become the first woman captain of a York boat – a position reserved for men in the heyday of fur trading and York boats in the 1800s. In fact, the crew of the fur-bearing boat was all men. Leap ahead to 2011. We  have not only a female captain, but also a female crew member – not token females, but hardworking, skilful participants carrying their weight literally and figuratively – Teresa as captain (sweep) and Cheryll Ferguson-Welke as oarsman along with her male counterparts.

Teresa Griffith’s book – York Boat Captain, 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River is not a women’s story, as such, but rather a people story – a  documentation of the human spirit – merging skill with emulating the activities of days gone by – business and survival.

In Teresa’s compelling, spellbinding and informative book, she makes what might be considered mundane – the prep work – fascinating – a good lead up to the adventure of the 18 days on the Peace River for whom all involved was a life-changing experience.

Teresa’s well-written, attention-getting work is a darn good read.

York Boat landing at Riverfront Park, Peace River, June 2011.
Photo by Beth Wilkins, Researcher, Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.  

Please see for yourself, at the launching of the book York Boat Captain, 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River – Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre. Captain Teresa Griffith looks forward to chatting with you about her adventure and signing her book, which will be for sale. Cash or cheque is acceptable.

Meet the Authors evening

The Museum will be hosting three local authors this Friday, July 8th from 6:30-8pm. At 7 pm, each of the authors will read from their books.

Carmel Ellis
Many have already enjoyed Carm's book: Barns of the North Peace. On July 8th Carm will be bringing his new and updated version as well as promoting his second book: Wilderness Park - Reflections 2010 which is a great book for anyone who loves the flora and fauna of the North.

Dollye Cooper
Dollye's memoirs: Looking Back with Dollye Cooper, is filled with wonderful memories of her life:
"When I came up to Grimshaw and he[Basil] asked me to marry him, we stayed at the Nickersons'. After supper the two of us went for a walk. The sidewalks were just boards and had many large cracks in them. Basil went to put the ring on my finger, but it fell down in the snow between the boards! Both of us were down on our knees, frantically searching in the snow. We must have been a sight, laughing so hard. Needless to say, we found it. Our children and grandchildren love to hear and relate this tale to anyone who will listen."

David McLaughlin
Stories I Love to Tell by David McLaughlin is also filled with great memories growing up in Alberta and eventually reaching the Peace River area: "In yet another life changing passage, I resigned from my teaching career of thirteen years with its steady paychecks and solid pension plan. We sold our mobile home; borrowed as much money as Farm Credit would lend us; borrowed additional funds from my mother; loaded up the family and all our belongings on two pickups and a trailer and headed for the Peace country and a career in full time farming. Most people, including our families, thought we were crazy and maybe we were. The years that followed were filled with hard work, disappointing crops, falling grain prices, rising costs and isolation from our families and friends. On the plus side, we raised our family in an excellent environment away from the problems of an urban life style and, in the end, inflated real estate prices set the basis from our eventual financial freedom."

Anyone interested in self-publishing, genealogy and local history would very much enjoy chatting with any of our local talents that will be present at this event. The local Peace River & District Genealogy Society will also have information available.

A Place in Mind: The Search for Authenticity by Avi Friedman

We are excited to host another author in June, one Dr. Avi Friedman, who was also the contractor for our Town's recent Downtown Revitalization and Tourism Action Plans.

Dr. Friedman has written a new book, "A Place in Mind: The Search for Authenticity" and will be at the Museum on June 11th at 7pm to give a short presentation about his new work.





from Vehicule Press:

"...Avi Friedman conveys his excitement at discovering people-friendly places - antidotes to social isolation. Searching for good places - authentic places - and wondering about the disappearance of others, are at the heart of A Place in Mind..."

Peace River Remembers, Book 2 - Submission Deadline Extended!

As many of you have probably heard, the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Historical Society is publishing "Peace River Remembers" Book 2 and is inviting anyone who has called Peace River home to submit their stories for publication. The society is also looking for those who would be willing to write stories for the various businesses, social clubs, schools, religious organizations and sports groups in Peace River. Please see http://www.peacerivermuseum.com/ for more information on what stories are needed, ideas to get you started writing your story and how to submit it once it is finished.

The original deadline for submissions of November 30, 2009 has been extended to January 15, 2010!

Award Winning Authors Visit the Peace Country

On Thursday, April 2nd for our final Storytelling evening until the fall, we were honored by a visit from Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden, authors of a number of First Nations children's books, including "When the Spirits Dance", "As Long as the Rivers Flow" and his most recent book, "Goodbye Buffalo Bay."




An animated Constance shares a story with some young visitors to the Museum.

This was a wonderful way to end our storytelling series with Billy Joe Laboucan until this fall. The Museum would like to thank Billy Joe for his leadership in these events and also Larry and Constance for the stories they brought with them on Thursday.