A two-part free series on southern New Hampshire Native American history and survival is being presented in April as part of the year-long celebration of Jaffrey’s 250th anniversary.
On Thursday, April 6, Franklin Pierce University anthropology professor Robert Goodby will present “Digging for Native American History in the Monadnock Region,” sponsored by the Jaffrey Conservation Commission.
Goodby, the author of “A Deep Presence: 13,000 Years of Native American History,” will examine Abenaki history in the Monadnock region based on 30 years of archeological fieldwork along with written histories and Abenaki traditions. The program will be held at the Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main St., and starts at 6:30 p.m.
On Thursday, April 13, New Hampshire state Rep. Sherry Gould will present “Abenaki Persistence Along the Contoocook River,” sponsored by the Jaffrey Historical Society and The Park Theatre as part of the society’s “Let’s Talk History” series on Jaffrey history.
Gould is a tribal citizen and special projects genealogist of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation and co-founder of the Abenaki Trails Project. She will talk about the people of the Abenaki Nation, past and present, focusing on their social and cultural experience, and describe current efforts to unearth and memorialize Abenaki history through the Trails Project.
Attendees are invited to share their local personal stories related to Native Americans. The program will be held at The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., and starts at 7 p.m.
The Discovering Native American History series is free and open to all.