Captain James Cook is famous for exploring and mapping Oceania, Australia, New Zealand and the West Coast of North America up to Nootka Sound.

 Cook is also famous for his desire to “civilize” the people he encountered on his three voyages and the often-brutal means he employed in pursuit of that goal.

 Two-and-a-half centuries later, colonialism has stolen the lands and cultures of Indigenous peoples, and “civilization” is still being forced onto them.

 Alice Te Punga Somerville is a Māori poet, author, scholar and irredentist. She is also the Head of the Department of English Language and Literatures at UBC.

 Professor Te Punga Somerville’s research goes deep into stories told by Māori and First Nations as opposed to the stories told about them.

 She will be joined on stage by local author, historian, anthropologist and fellow Māori Chris Arnett.

 What do the stories told by Māori and First Nations reveal? How can they find wider audiences?

 How do the experiences of Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand) compare with the First Nations of BC?

 Are Māori any closer to acceptable reconciliation than our First Nations?

 How can non-Indigenous people develop respect and understanding for the histories, perspectives and continuing importance of Indigenous peoples?

 Tickets available HERE from February 3rd.