Simsbury Historical Society Presents "Connecticut's Indigenous Communities: An Introduction"

Anthropologist and Archaeologist Lucianne Lavin Gives Presentation at Simsbury Historical Society’s Annual Meeting

Contact: Simsbury Historical Society, 860-658-2500, simsburyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 7:00pm

FEE: Free to members

LOCATION: Simsbury Historical Society Ellsworth Center, 10 Phelps Lane, Simsbury, CT 06070

SIMSBURY, CT: The Simsbury Historical Society is pleased to present “Connecticut’s Indigenous Communities: An Introduction” with featured speaker Lucianne Lavin at its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 12th, 7:00 p.m. at the Ellsworth Center, 10 Phelps Lane, Simsbury, CT. Admission is free for SHS members. For information, call 860.658.2500, email simsburyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or visit www.simsburyhistory.org.

Connecticut’s indigenous communities have long, rich histories that extend back to when they shared the planet with mastodons and other extinct animals. Ignored or themselves falsely labeled extinct by local 19th-century town histories, they evolved into complex tribal societies with sophisticated social and political traditions, a story that is largely untold. Though ravaged by European diseases, war, land losses, poverty, and discrimination, Native American peoples adapted to their constantly changing social landscapes through a series of survival strategies. Their communities remain a vibrant part of Connecticut life.

Featured speaker Lucianne Lavin is Director of Research and Collections at the Institute for American Indian Studies, a museum and research and educational center in Washington, CT. She is a member of the state’s Native American Heritage Advisory Council and Editor of the journal of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut. Dr. Lavin is an anthropologist and archaeologist with over 40 years of research and field experience in Northeastern archaeology and anthropology, including teaching, museum exhibits and curatorial work, cultural resource management, editorial work, and public relations. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from New York University and her B.A. from Indiana University. She has taught archaeology and anthropology courses at a number of Connecticut and New York colleges, including Connecticut College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, and Adelphi University. She has owned and operated an archaeological firm for over 25 years. Her award-winning book, Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples: What Archaeology, History and Oral Traditions Teach Us about their Communities and Cultures, was published by Yale University Press in spring 2013.

The Simsbury Historical Society has been preserving and celebrating the town’s history since 1911. Funded entirely by members and donors, SHS invites and encourages the community to join generously with their support. To find out more, visit www.simsburyhistory.org.

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