Apr 16 Thursday
What inspires us? How does one move from inspiration to creative output? Award-winning songwriter Wes Weddell will speak on the process of drawing inspiration from the stories around us and turning that into original content—specifically music. He’ll sing examples of songs he’s written inspired by local stories and a wide range of books, letting attendees vote on which titles they’d like to hear.
For the past 25 years, Wes Weddell has worked multiple shifts in the engine room of Seattle’s roots music scene, keeping his hands in abundant projects as frontman, sideman, writer, teacher, and community-builder. Along the way he has continued to teach a variety of instruments and styles across generations, helping hundreds find the joy of playing and singing with others. A native of Pullman, WA, Weddell also once held full-time Seattle Mariners media credentials and has participated in a major university study of mountain huckleberry harvesters. More at WesWeddell.com.
This lecture is part of the Tri-Cities Community Lecture Series and is hosted by Three Rivers Folklife Society.
Jun Sunseri is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at UC Berkeley. Dr. Sunseri's archaeological research focuses on colonialism, foodways, landscapes, historical archaeology, preservation and heritage in the western US and northern South Africa. Jun Sunseri's research in community-accountable archaeological work is often focused on how the past is a living part of processes that have translated into racialized or other inequalities in the present and subsequent struggles by our Community Mentors for self-determination. Through partnered and Community-Mentored co-design and management of research process and products, reformulations of archaeological praxis inform work aligned more closely to the priorities of community partners. With mandates from those with the most to lose in the process of doing archaeology, community-accountable archaeological research is a powerful commitment to decolonizing how stories about the past are created and shared.
We are fortunate to be invited to work on projects that matter in the here and now, beyond the academy and shoulder-to-shoulder with those who so generously mentor us in their Ancestral Places and gift us with stories and meaning for our work. Our lab uses a diversity of methodologies to puruse these partnered research agendas, such as geophysics and modeling to not only better understand the past, but also better serve the research mandates of our community mentors, such as our role in intergenerational knowledge transfer. Our work includes a decade of effort on the petition for federal recognition for the Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a, land rematriation for the Chhé'ee Fókaa Band of Northeastern Pomo, and cultural fire and archaeology with the Flicker InterTribal fire crew.
Third Place Books and the Seattle Public Library present a conversation with Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson (head of The All We Can Save Project, co-editor of All We Can Save). Her new book, Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home, offers a compassionate and empowering guide for navigating through ache to action, doubt to possibility. Whether we’re steeped in climate or newly curious, we can look inward with care, outward with curiosity, and forward with courage to shape our unique contributions. Join Dr. Wilkinson for a dynamic book experience, immersing in the wisdom of Climate Wayfinding and the beauty of poetry, art, and song. Amid kindred community, we remember that each of us is a node of possibility for healing the climate crisis—whoever we are and whatever we’ve got to give. Book signing to follow.Venue: Seattle Public Library (Central Branch), Microsoft Auditorium, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104Time: 7pm (Doors open 6:30pm) Please note: parking is limited. We encourage attendees to carpool or arrive by public transit.
Apr 22 Wednesday
Free In Person Financial Course! Want to learn more about money? How to make your dollar stretch? How to create a budget? Well this free course is for you! Come join us on Wednesdays at the WECU Education Center on 511 E. Holly Street, Downtown Bellingham, starting February 4th-March 25th from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Scan the QR code or visit www.oppco.org/flare-registration/ to register. Hope to see you there!!!
Apr 29 Wednesday
Apr 30 Thursday
During World War II, over 6,000 men were assigned to Walla Walla’s Army airfield base. Walla Walla Air Field was unique, in that it was the recipient of the first squadron of African-American WACS (Women’s Army Corps) ever assigned to an air base. About 100 of them arrived in August 1943, composed of WACs from different bases. Who were these black WACs? And what was their role at the air base?
How were the WACs assigned to Walla Walla treated, and what was their interaction with the community like?
Several Union-Bulletin articles, two air base newsletters and a long-forgotten microfilm of Walla Walla Air Field history uncovered at the Whitman College Archives helped reconstruct the WACs’ experience here.
Presented by Susan Monahan.
Join the Latah County Historical Society for Suds with a Scholar on Thursday, April 30th at Hunga Dunga Brewing Co (333 N Jackson St) in Moscow. Beginning at 6:30 pm, Dr. Lee Sappington will present “We Can Take It,” a talk about the history and work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in North Idaho throughout the 1930s.
Lee Sappington holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Washington State University and is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Idaho with a focus on cultural resource management and the history and archaeology of the Columbia Plateau.
Entry to this event is $12 for LCHS members, $15 for the general public, and includes a guest’s first beer. Additional beverages and food will be available for purchase. Tickets may be acquired in advance at latahcountyhistoricalsociety.org/suds.
May 01 Friday
The Kulshan Chorus presents “We Tell Each Other Stories” on Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham, Washington. Directed by Dustin Willetts, this unique and inspiring concert features the professional storytelling of Eva Abram (Rainwater Storytelling) and Harvest Moon (Quinault Basket Maker & Storyteller), interwoven with the music of the Kulshan Chorus.
“Storytelling has been at the center of human society since we first learned to communicate,” says Willetts. “It is a fundamental tool for not only sharing information but for creating connections and fostering empathy. It is a true honor to bring our stories and songs to you this evening and to share with you the gifts of Eva Abram and Harvest Moon. These two talented word-weavers will inspire you with their tales, while Kulshan Chorus offers a soundtrack that prepares your heart to receive something wonderful and new. Come and sit by the fire and hear a story. Put aside the noise of the outside world and let us once again fan the flames of wonder.”
General admission tickets are available for $25 at https://www.ticketstripe.com/we-tell-stories. An ASL interpreter will be present at the May 2 performance. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.kulshanchorus.org.
May 02 Saturday
May 06 Wednesday
