History Seminar Series: Dr. John Long on Treaty No. 9 and Education

From Dr. Derek Neal:

The Department of History invites everyone at Nipissing University and in the wider community to hear Dr John Long, speaking this Friday, December 3 at our usual time of 2:30 pm in Room A122. 

Dr Long's presentation, entitled "Promises of Education and Schooling in Treaty No. 9," considers the implications for education provision in this treaty signed by Canada with aboriginal nations of Ontario's far north in 1905 and in the 1930s.

As always, the talk is free, refreshments are served and everyone is welcome. Please contact me in case of any questions.

Hoping to see you there,

Derek Neal

Dr. Stephen Connor speaks --- History Seminar Series, Friday November 26

The Department of History invites everyone at Nipissing University and those in the wider community to hear Dr Stephen Connor this Friday, November 26, at 3:30 pm, in A122. Refreshments will be provided.

Dr Connor's presentation is entitled "Grey Zone/Green Zone: War, Invasion and Occupation," and concerns the Nazi occupation of Brest-Litovsk in 1942–44. An abstract follows this message.

Please note that the talk will begin later than most other Seminar Series talks to accommodate an Arts and Science Faculty Council meeting earlier the same afternoon.

For further information, please feel free to contact Derek Neal at derekn@Nipissingu.ca .

Abstract:

In his 2006 book, Green Zone: Imperial Life in the Emerald City, Rajiv Chandrasekaran detailed American efforts to create a new democratic Iraq.  Paul Bremmer’s Coalition Provisional Authority, he argued, administered Iraq out of step with the harsh realities of life after Saddam and spent their first year ruling and rebuilding from inside a physical and ideological bubble.   In the end, he claimed, even ever-optimistic neo-cons were mugged by reality.

While comparisons between American actions in Iraq and other earlier 20^th century invasions are, for the historian, both dangerous and not particularly fruitful, the concept of the Green Zone – the bubble – provides an interesting and compelling lens through which invasion, occupation and reconstruction can be examined.  In my own research focused on the lowest echelons of the German civil administration, I continually witness the profound disconnect between how the Nazis wished the world to be and how, in fact, it was.  In short, I examine the ways in which low-level yet indispensible Nazis were mugged by reality and what they tried to do about it.  

The invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 marked the beginning of Hitler’s real war.  In the east, he imagined, lay the living space so central to the survival of the Aryan race.  To this end, Hitler ordered the exploitation of the occupied territory in service of the war economy to ensure Germans had enough food to eat and guns to shoot.  From the very beginning, food and labour sat at the very heart of the Nazi colonial experience.

Between late 1941 and mid 1944, the civil administration in the occupied Soviet Union spearheaded efforts at systematic exploitation, spoliation, and extermination.  The question remains – what exactly did this mean for those expected to undertake these tasks ‘at the sharp end’ and for the indigenous populations who would endure them?   The case of Brest-Litovsk located in western Ukraine provides an invaluable case study to address this issue.  Over the course of the occupation, civil officials in Brest-Litovsk produced a flow of reports detailing the goals, methods and travails of implementing their particular slice of Nazi policy.  These reports paint a compelling portrait of everyday life in the region, offering an often surprisingly candid look at the aims, achievements, failures and adaptations of the occupiers. 

This paper details the practice of Nazi exploitation and details the realities facing the German civil administration at the lowest levels.  Finally, my study both provides insights into the Nazi experience in the colonial ‘wild east’ and suggests some of the more general consequences of invasion, war and occupation.

From Dr. Robin Gendron -- David Dyment speaks to the Canadian International Council on December 2

Please join the Nipissing Branch of the Canadian International Council for our next event taking place next Thursday, December 2nd when we'll be hosting Dr. David Dyment who will be speaking on "Doing the Continental: A New Canadian-American Relationship."  The talk will take place from 7-8:30 pm in the Auditorium of the North Bay Public Library at 271 Worthington St E. The event is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome!

 

Drawing on his book "Doing the Continental," David Dyment will speak to the challenges and opportunities for Canada in its relations with the United States, including the need for new policies, priorities, and approaches for Canada to keep its interests at the forefront with an American government preoccupied by the strategic, financial, and political challenges that distract its attention from its northern neighbour.  Dr. Dyment will be available to sign copies of his book after the talk.

 

David Dyment  teaches Political Science at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, where he is a senior research associate in the Centre on North American Politics and Society.  He has also served on the staff of the Governor General and as a senior analyst in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

For more information about this or upcoming events, please contact me at gendronrs@nipissingu.ca or 474-3450 ext 4395.

International Education Week

Good day everyone,

The Nipissing International Office staff are excited to inform you about the activities/presentations that are slated for "INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK."

Returning Exchange Students who have studied abroad last year will join Melissa Toupin Laforge, our Education Abroad Coordinator to share their experiences studying abroad and explain various opportunities for Nipissing U students to study, intern or work  abroad in the 2011-12 academic year. 

An understanding of international issues can be gained right here at home. Therefore, we'll provide information about how to get involved in various "globally minded" activities right here on campus too.

Consider attending to gain an understanding about these events, and we ask faculty members to make these announcements to your classes over the next week:

All information sessions are scheduled from 11:30am -12:30pm  in Room A118 on:

Monday November 15

Wednesday November 17

Friday November 19          

The Nipissing International Office will be staffing booths around campus the week of Nov 15-19th, with the assistance of international students and returning NU exchange students. Please drop by to find out "what's up on the international front," and fill out a ballot to win some prizes.

From the History Club -- upcoming events

We are coming to the end of our fall term we have finished planing the events. If you could please inform your students about these activities it would be appreciated!

1) Our Annual Book Sale is being held from Monday Nov. 15 until Friday Nov. 19 from 10:00 - 5:00 in Student Hallway (outside of B200). There are going to be books from every genre available for the low cost of $1-$12. Please stop on by and check out the selection of books!

2) Movie Night: On Wednesday November 24 in H104 the History Club is showing Dr. Strangelove, a comedy concerning the Cold War Era. Dr. Gendron will be providing an introduction at 7:00 p.m. and the movie will start around 7:30 p.m. There will be baked goods, popcorn, and other snacks will be provided. We are asking for a $2 donation to be put towards future History Club events.

3) History Pub Night: Our final winter semester pub night will be held on Thursday December 9th at 9:30 p.m. at the Bull and Quench. Take a break from the essay writing and studying to relax and socialize with others history students.

4) Seminar Series: Dr. Connor will be providing the next seminar series talk on Friday November 26th at 3:30 p.m. in room A122.  His topic is "Grey Zone/Green Zone: War, invasion, and Occupation."

5) Discussion: Please, if you have not already, join in on the discussion about scheduling. The discussion will close Thursday November 18th at 11:59 p.m. It is important that you have your opinions know so that change can happen. Thank you for those who have already shared your opinion. This discussion can be found on the Nipissing University History Club Group on Facebook.

Thanks everyone for all of the participation in the previous events! Stay tuned for our activities beginning again in the winter term. As always feel free to send us any feedback, we always enjoy hearing from you.

All the best,
Amanda Van Lanen

Anne Clendinning speaks! November 5, 2:30 PM