Meet the Authors: Valley of the Birdtail
Date: Jun 20
7:00 pm
- 8:00 pm
Where: Theatre
Evening Talk
Join Judy A. White, K.C., in conversation with authors Douglas Sanderson, attending virutally, (Amo Binashii) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman to discuss their acclaimed book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town and the Road to Reconciliation.
Valley of the Birdtail is about how two communities became separate and unequal—and what it means for the rest of us. The story of these two communities reflects much of what has gone wrong in relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians. It also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.
This program is free but a ticket is required. Please reserve your free ticket online or by calling 709-757-8090.
About the Authors:
Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) is Beaver Clan, from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Professor Sanderson has served as senior Advisor to the government of Ontario, in the offices of the Attorney General and Aboriginal Affairs.
Andrew Stobo Sniderman is a writer, lawyer and Rhodes Scholar from Montreal. He has written for the New York Times, the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s. He has also argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, served as the human rights policy advisor to the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, and worked for a judge of South Africa’s Constitutional Court.
Judy A. White , K.C. is a Mi’kmaq and member of the Flat Bay Band. Ms. White completed a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie Law School with particular emphasis upon Aboriginal Law. Ms. White also completed the Intensive Program of Lands, Resources and First Nations Government at Osgoode Hall Law School. Ms. White has recently completed the Leading Peoples and Investing in Sustaining Communities, an Indigenous certificate program at Harvard Business School. Ms. White has completed the Chartered Directors Program at McMaster University. Ms. White has vast board and governance experience and has served many agencies and in various capacities. Ms. White is currently serving as Director General at Indigenous Services Canada. Ms. White is the Chair of the Inuvialuit Arbitration Board. Ms. White serves as Chairperson of the NL Human Rights Commission, as well as Co-Chair of Equal Voice- NL. Ms. White was the 2022 Recipient of the Governor General Person’s Case Award.
Today's Events & Programs
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Join Collections Manager Wade Greeley for an exclusive members-only tour of the collections vault.
Step beyond the public galleries and unearth the untold stories behind ceramics in The Rooms collection. From the ornate to the beautifully ordinary, explore the fascinating history of objects that bridge the gap between art and utility.
Don’t miss your chance to explore seldom seen tools that have shaped daily life for centuries.
This program includes a complimentary coffee or tea from The Rooms Café following the tour.
Cost: $20 plus HST (Members Only). Ticket sales open Friday, January 9 at 10:00 am. Please call 709-757-8090 to reserve your ticket.
Image: Ceramics fused during the Great Fire of 1892, St. John’s, NL.
Join Collections Manager Wade Greeley for an exclusive members-only tour of the collections vault.
Step beyond the public galleries and unearth the untold stories behind ceramics in The Rooms collection. From the ornate to the beautifully ordinary, explore the fascinating history of objects that bridge the gap between art and utility.
Don’t miss your chance to explore seldom seen tools that have shaped daily life for centuries.
This program includes a complimentary coffee or tea from The Rooms Café following the tour.
Cost: $20 plus HST (Members Only). Ticket sales open Friday, January 9 at 10:00 am. Please call 709-757-8090 to reserve your ticket.
Image: Ceramics fused during the Great Fire of 1892, St. John’s, NL.
Your Friday’s Just Got Creative
Whether you’re a confident sketcher looking for community and inspiration, or someone who’s always wanted to try drawing but never felt brave enough—this is your chance!
Join us in a welcoming, relaxed environment where creativity flows and everyone belongs. Each week, we explore a new theme while building our skills and own drawing style. From investigating the intricate details of our natural history collection to learning and drawing from our gallery exhibitions.
What to Expect:
• A supportive space to learn, share, and enjoy art together
• Guided exercises with an experienced instructor
• Tips and techniques for all skill levels
• Quality drawing supplies provided (or bring your favorite sketchbook!)
No pressure, just possibilities. Come for the art, stay for the conversation.
Cost: $25 per session plus HST. 10% discount for members. Reserve your spot today online or by calling (709) 757-8090
Let’s draw together at The Rooms!
What fills the void when a species disappears?
Legends from the past and lessons for the future.
Step into our Connections Gallery and hear the stories of the Great Auk, the Newfoundland Wolf, and endangered whales as they echo across the ages through their body and bones.
Commiserate with the extinct, heed the calls of the endangered, and get hands on with remarkable specimens. Then, stand in awe before The Earth, Our Mother, Billy Gauthier’s breathtaking sculpture carved from the skull of a fin whale.
Join us for an unforgettable experience where science meets storytelling and leave inspired, with a deeper love for the rich natural history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Included in the cost of admission. This tour is suitable for all ages and includes unique specimens not currently on display.
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Your Friday’s Just Got Creative
Whether you’re a confident sketcher looking for community and inspiration, or someone who’s always wanted to try drawing but never felt brave enough—this is your chance!
Join us in a welcoming, relaxed environment where creativity flows and everyone belongs. Each week, we explore a new theme while building our skills and own drawing style. From investigating the intricate details of our natural history collection to learning and drawing from our gallery exhibitions.
What to Expect:
• A supportive space to learn, share, and enjoy art together
• Guided exercises with an experienced instructor
• Tips and techniques for all skill levels
• Quality drawing supplies provided (or bring your favorite sketchbook!)
No pressure, just possibilities. Come for the art, stay for the conversation.
Cost: $25 per session plus HST. 10% discount for members. Reserve your spot today online or by calling (709) 757-8090
Let’s draw together at The Rooms!
Join us for an exclusive screening of Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) by award-winning Canadian Inuit Director, Zacharias Kunuk, starring Theresia Kappianaq, Haiden Angutimarik, Leah Panimera, Mark Taqqaugaq, and Dion Amarualik.
The film recently won the Best Canadian Feature Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Best known for his 2001 feature film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, winner of the 2001 Camera d’Or and voted Canada’s Best Film of all-time by the Toronto International Film Festival Film Critic poll in 2015, Kunuk is considered one of the pioneers of Indigenous cinema, having directed five feature films and over 40 documentaries, all in Inuktitut.
Inspired by traditional Inuit stories and legends, Uiksaringitara: Wrong Husband is set in 2000 BCE, when Inuit lived semi-nomadically in small groups, moving to follow the seasons and animals. Society was guided by Shamanism, a complex spiritual system of taboos where each object or life form has a spirit that must be respected, and the lines between the “real” world and the “spirit” world blurred.
Kaujak (Theresia Kappianaq) and Sapa (Haiden Angutimarik) were promised to each other at birth. After the sudden death of Kaujak’s father, her mother marries a man from another camp tearing the young lovers apart. The promise of a better life quickly turns to a nightmare, with aggressive suitors backed by an evil shaman vying to win Kaujak’s hand. But Kaujak resists, holding on to hope that Sapa will one day make things right.
Running time: 100 minutes
Shot on location in Igloolik, Nunavut
Cost: $12 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Get your tickets online or by calling 709-757-8090.