Honorary Dene chief Cece Hodgson McCauley (1922-2018), Cree writer and musician Tomson Highway and Aaron Pete, Chief of the Chawathil First Nation in British Columbia, were/are Indigenous risk-takers whose points of view are worth further study.
Jessica Hill, who is originally from Oneidas of the Thames, and who now lives in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, met my mother Jay Peterson (1920-1976) in the mid-1960s. They shared an interest in the arts. Hill considered my mother to be like a “second mother” and named her daughter Leith in honour of my mother.
“A Friendship Based on the Arts” – Jay Peterson (1920-1976) and Jessica Hill Read More »
I knew how to enjoy myself when I was a child, as.you can see in this 1955 photo of me getting a groove on with my ukulele. But my exuberance was often problematic for my parents, e.g., my penchant for cutting off my hair.
Getting a Groove on with My Ukulele in 1955 Read More »
Leith Peterson discusses what was involved in setting up her first WordPress blog and writing her first post.
My First “Leith Peterson” WordPress Blog Post Read More »
A discussion of my intriguing Royce Relatives: “Frontier Lady” Sarah Royce (1819-1891) whose published account of life during the 1849 Gold Rush is still in print, Marion Royce (1901-1987) women’s rights advocate and Order of Canada recipient, and Jean Royce (1904-1982) the longest-serving registrar of Queen’s University (1933-1968).
My Intriguing Royce Relatives, Including Sarah, Marion and Jean Royce Read More »
Cree writer and pianist Tomson Highway’s memoir Permanent Astonishment provides many insights into why he is a Canada Indigenous frontrunner. He successfully navigated his way through nine challenging years at a residential school. Then from 1975 to 1978, he got two B.A.’s from Western, coordinated the Festival of Native Music ’78 and became my friend.
Peterson family Christmases from 1952 to 1965 were multi-faceted. My mother Jay Peterson (1920-1976) created unique Noel-inspired artwork. My brothers Stu and Chris (1954-2009) prepared Christmas cards at the Leith, Ontario print shop. I wrote an account of what London, Ontario’s Victoria Park Christmas displays were like in the mid-1960s.
Peterson Family Christmases, London, Ontario, Canada, 1952-1965 Read More »
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) hailed from Detroit, where his family were well-known citizens. His grandfather’s son-in-law Elijah Brush (1775-1813) advocated for the freedom of two Black slaves, Peter and Hannah Denison. The Denison’s daughter, Lisette Denison, helped establish a church in 1868 where people of any background could worship.
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was discussed by the two characters in my Eldon House play. While Amelia Harris (1798-1882) considered Askin to be one of her “oldest friends,” John Wilson (1809-1869) did not share her enthusiasm.
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was a controversial figure in the Forest City. Journalist L N Bronson (1905-1994) described Askin in a 1968 London Free Press article as “Colonel to his friends, Indian to his detractors.”