"There was a time in History" Seminars

Each seminar is approximately one hour in length and presented costumed, but in 3rd person, as opposed to my living History Programs which are presented in 1st Person as a character form the past.

These programs were all presented at Fort Nisqually during 2009.  If you are interested in any of these seminars for your organization, I can make them available with about two weeks notice.  Please contact me with any questions.

January
As Jacques Portier, retired Nor' Wester, John will share French Songs of the 19th Century Northwest Fur Trade.  Voyageur Song Lyrics

February
Kumtux Chinook? (Part 1 of 2)  As Jacques Portier, retired Nor’Wester, John will cover aspects of the Chinook Jargon and it role in the early Northwest.  Chinook Jargon Primer

March
Kumtux Chinook, weght? (part 2 of 2)  As Jacques Portier, retired Nor’Wester, John will hold a workshop to assist participants wanting to learn some practical Chinook Jargon in a living history context. 

April
Story telling (Part 1 of 2 parts).  This is theater in its most intimate form.  By flickering fire light at the end of the day or on a quiet afternoon among friends with nothing more important to do, a good story takes us back to our social beginnings.  John will tell a couple of tales and hold a workshop on this ageless tradition. 

May
Story telling again (Part 2 of 2 parts).  John will tell a tale or two and continue the workshop on story telling. 

June
The banjo and the guitar of the 19^th Century.  John will present a combination of history and music from the 19^th Century.
 

July
Bourgeois and Voyageur; What they really looked like.  A discussion of attire among the North West Company and HBC in the 18^th and 19^th Century.  The focus will be on male fashion, but there will also be some discussion of common female attire. 

August
75 years in Point Defiance Park.  John will cover the inspiring story of how Fort Nisqually, in the midst of the Great Depression of the 20^th Century,  ended up in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park. 

September
Newspapers and journalism of the 19^th Century.  How much did the average Puget Sound resident of the 1850s know about the world around him?  As Mart Taylor, a traveling American entertainer, John will discuss news events of the 1850s and share authentic publications of the time period.  

October
Birch Bark Canoes.  A discussion of the “18 Wheeler & the Pick-up Truck” of the fur trade.  As Old Nor'Wester Jacques Portier, John will discuss traveling the Voyageur Highway by birch bark canoe in the 18th and 19th Century.     

November
John Quincy Adams, John will discuss Eastern influences on the development of Washington State focusing on the "Convention of 1818" allowing for joint occupation and settlement of the Oregon Country, the present day States of Washington and Oregon.   

December
“Jour de L'An”.  Come join with Jacques Portier, Old Nor'Wester and celebrate the "day of the New Year".  Including songs, stories and the poetry of William Henry Drummond.

The fee for these seminar programs is $250 + transportation & lodging, if outside the greater Seattle/ Tacoma/ Olympia, WA area. 

Usual program length is approximately 1 hour.
 

Presentations are suitable for elementary school age through adult audiences.