DAVID THOMPSON COLUMBIA BRIGADE

Events in Bonner County, June 10-14, 2011

SANDPOINT

Canoes For The Journey: David Thompson at Boat Encampment in 1811 at the Bonner County Historical Museum, 611 South Ella Avenue. Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., 263-2344.

CLARK FORK

Friday, June 10

Shadows of David Thompson, a documentary film by filmmaker George Sibley about the life and work of map-maker and explorer David Thompson, who traveled from Hudson Bay across the Pacific Northwest, mapping and describing what is now British Columbia, Montana, Idaho and Washington State. George Sibley will be present to discuss how the documentary film was made. 3:30 P.M. at the Clark Fork Library 

David Thompson Paddles Downstream by Jack Nisbet, Thompson historian, and Francis Cullooyah, Kalispel Tribal elder and Culture Department director. Donation requested at the door. 7:00 P.M. at the Clark Fork-Hope Area Senior Center. Sponsored by the Bonner County Historical Society, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Kalispel Tribe, Clark Fork-Hope Area Seniors, and City of Clark Fork.

David Thompson Paddles Downstream - In the spring of 1811, North West Company fur agent David Thompson moved south from Boat Encampment at the foot of the Canadian Rockies to resupply his trade houses in the Clark Fork and Spokane watersheds, then began the final leg of his push for the Pacific Ocean. Along the way he built three cedar plank canoes of his own design, assembled a crack paddling crew on the fly, constantly made the astronomical observations that would lead to the first accurate maps of the region, and negotiated wild runoff after a winter of heavy snowfall.

In this powerpoint presentation, we will follow Thompson’s field journals as he makes his way downstream, focusing on his adventures in the Clark Fork and Pend Oreille drainage. Particular attention will be paid to the people he met, the landscape he passed through, and comparisons between the rivers then and now.

Sunday, June 12

3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. – Columbia Brigade arrival and greeting ceremony at Jay White’s lagoon followed by Brigade’s procession to the Veteran’s Memorial Field (adjacent to Clark Fork-Hope Area Senior Center) where the brigade will camp and have exhibits on display for the public.

4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. – Members of the Brigade will offer the public a chance to paddle a voyageur canoe at Jay White’s lagoon on the Clark Fork River.

6:30 P.M. – Hosted dinner for the Brigade.

8:00 P.M. – The public will have an opportunity to visit with brigade members and view displays and exhibits. The North American Land Surveyors, who are sponsoring two canoes in the Brigade, will have three exhibits on display for the public, including The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau, David Thompson and the International Boundary, and a display of surveying instruments that would have been used by David Thompson.

DOVER

Monday, June 13

4:00 P.M. - Columbia Brigade’s arrival in front of the Dover City Hall. They will be camping in the park adjacent to the Dover City Hall.

4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. –  The public will have an opportunity to visit with brigade members and view displays and exhibits. The North American Land Surveyors, who are sponsoring two canoes in the Brigade, will have three exhibits on display for the public, including The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau, David Thompson and the International Boundary, and a display of surveying instruments that would have been used by David Thompson.

David Thompson Paddles Downstream by Jack Nisbet. 5:30 and 7:00 P.M. at the Dover City hall. Donation requested at the door. Sponsored by the Bonner County Historical Society.

OLDTOWN

Tuesday, June 14

Time TBD – Columbia Brigade’s arrival at Rotary Park, which is located at the north end of the Highway 2 bridge across the Pend Oreille River.

6:30 P.M.— Come have Prime Rib dinner with the Brigade at Rotary Park. Cost is $15.00 per person. Reservations are required by Sunday, June 12. Contact Brian Orr at (208) 290-5905 and leave a voicemail with number in party.

6:30 P.M. – The public will have an opportunity to visit with brigade members and view displays and exhibits. The North American Land Surveyors, who are sponsoring two canoes in the Brigade, will have three exhibits on display for the public, including The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau, David Thompson and the International Boundary, and a display of surveying instruments that would have been used by David Thompson.

David Thompson Paddles Downstream by Jack Nisbet. 5:30 P.M. and 7:30 P.M. at Rotary Park.  Sponsored by the Newport-Oldtown Rotary Club.

Wednesday, June 15

The public is invited to come have breakfast with the Brigade before their departure to Usk. 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. at Rotary Park. Cost of the breakfast is $5.00 (sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns served). Reservations are NOT required.

For information about the David Thompson Columbia Brigade and a full schedule of the entire route, visit  www.2011brigade.org.