 |
|
||||||
 |
|
|
|
What is the Quadricentennial? In July of 1609, Samuel de Champlain arrived on the lake that now bears his name. The French explorer provided us with the first written description of the Champlain Valley. His arrival (and the arrival of Europeans to the region) triggered significant changes in culture, economy, and environment. In 2009, the 400th commemoration of Champlain's arrival will include a series of dynamic programs, special events, classes, publications, films, musical events, pageantry, and interpretive infrastructure. Who is Organizing It? On October 12, 2003, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas created the Lake Champlain Quadrcientennial Commission to lead the planning and implementation of 2009 Quadricentennial events and commemorations. After gathering public input, the Commission published a plan in 2006 that invites all of Vermont to explore the major Quadricentennial themes: The Lake, The Land, and The People. Committees comprised of Vermonters with affiliations in education, business, the environment, history, the arts, and government are working in partnership with the State of New York, and the Provence of Quebec to create a memorable year of Quadricentennial activities. The City of Burlington will play a large role as a host and "signature event" sponsor, and is involved directly with Quadricentennial planning. Scores of volunteer Vermonters, New Yorkers and Quebec'ers are developing a comprehensive program for the commemoration, which is billed as a "once in three lifetimes event." Offical Websites: What does the Quadricentennial Mean, and Why is it Significant? The Quadricentennial memorializes an important historical moment: The first contact between European and Native American cultures in the Champlain Valley. Samuel de Champlain was more than an adventurer: he was a complex man who had significant historical influence. The impacts of his presence persist until this day, and his legacy is both celebrated and questioned. His influence is felt across the northeast American continent: Quebec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, and the City is throwing a huge 400th birthday celebration in summer 2008. This international event will lead into the 2009 commemoration program that is taking place in Vermont, New York, and southern Quebec. Samuel de Champlain's 1609 visit is considered by historians as the beginning of European contact with Native Americans in the American northeast. Recorded history for the Champlain Valley region is thus divided into "pre-contact" and "post-contact" periods. Interestingly, Henry Hudson, an Englishman working for the Dutch, also explored the river that now bears his name 1609. Although these two explorers never met, their travels that same year changed the world. Traders and settlers soon followed these explorers, changing the cultural fabric of these valleys forever. There is no single way to interpret the meaning of Champlain's arrival. Moreover, the cascade of events, relationships, alliances, and deep conflict that emerged from his arrival greatly exceeds the actions of a single man. The 2009 commemoration of Samuel de Champlain's arrival is therefore an opportunity to explore the meaning and impact of our shared culture, environment, and knowledge. How we carry out the commemoration will also help tell the story of the times we live in now to future generations. What Do We Know and Not Know About Our History? Pre-contact history is now known to be far more extensive and complex than had been previously assumed. The complexity of Native American trading systems, agricultural practices, arts and culture, language, society, long-distance travel and communication systems was far more advanced in the pre-contact period than current teachings address. The upcoming Quadricentennial is spurring new scholarship on the pre-contact period. In 1609, descendants of peoples living on the continent for more than 10,000 years were encountering Europeans for the first time, triggering cultural, economic, and ecological changes - many of which still persist. Four hundred years on, the post-contact impacts of those changes are present in many aspects of our lives. Issues of cultural identity, Native American rights, environmental stewardship, economic interdependence, and relations between French and English speakers are all still relevant and sometimes controversial. Post-contact history is also often misrepresented, even in contemporary scholarship. The Quadricentennial planning process has embraced the controversy, and has already provided fresh insights and spurred new interest in post-contact history. There are many efforts underway: Several scholarly publications and documentary films are planned for release in 2009, along with at least one academic conference planned. Quadricentennial planners are creating and promoting a series of programs, events, and new scholarship to identify the sources and meanings of our complex shared history. Planners seek to ensure that there is ample opportunity for public expression and the sharing of diverse interpretation of the meaning of this event. Jay Craven Hired as Burlington Quadricentennial Event Producer Jay Craven, Vermont-based film producer, has enthusiastically agreed to produce the Burlington Signature Event. Craven's Kingdom County Productions continues to produce top-quality films. Jay is producing the Burlington Signature Event Festival on the Burlington waterfront that will run from July 2-11th 2009. The Festival will include a broad variety of activities, musical and dance performance, visual art, and Native American film, art, and lecture series. Jay has already identified a number of world-class opportunities, and is crafting a program for the week. The Native American Signature Event is now part of the festival week. The Native American Quadricentennial Committee is working with Jay on a concurrent series of films, lectures, juried art show, and musical performances focused on the experiences and culture of the original inhabitants of the Champlain Valley. Comments? Your input and participation is welcomed. Contact Nick Warner at:
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|