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Presentations

Public speaking

John lectures and screens his films nationally and internationally, including presentations at Yale, Berkeley, the Smithsonian (Washington and NYC), Montana, Vancouver, Spain and Tokyo.


Theme Title Host Institution Place Dates Related Film/Project? See it on-line Photos Notes Sponsors
Inuit Art & Culture Inuktitut 101 (a primer in the Inuit language) Adventure Canada Northwest Passage, Nunavut Annual Presentation
Printmaking in Japan (promotion for Adventure Canada) Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) Tokyo, Japan Nov 19, 2014 Showed clips from Songs in Stone Link
Authenticating their Inuit art collection Hood Museum, Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Nov 7, 2013 Told the stories of the pieces Link
Lecture: John Houston, Kiviuq as a Living Oral Tradition Norwich University Northfield, Vermont Nov 6, 2013 Kiviuq: The Inuit Shaman Hero – screening of Kiviuq Link Co-Sponsored by The Center for Circumpolar Studies, College of Liberal Arts at Norwich University, Consulate General of Canada, and Adventure Canada.
Lecture: John Houston, Spirit Masters and Inuit Art Kellogg-Hubbard Library Montpelier, Vermont Nov 5, 2013 Anima Borealis series – Diet of Souls screening, opened by Canada Consul General Patrick Binns Link Hosted by Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Co-Sponsored by The Center for Circumpolar Studies, Consulate General of Canada, and Adventure Canada.
Humanities seminar – preparing for the Venice Biennale Technical University of Nova Scotia – Architecture Halifax, Nova Scotia May 15, 2013 Screened Diet of Souls, lecture
John Houston: A Life in Inuit Art -Speech and gallery tour Argyle Fine Art Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia Nov 8-22, 2012 (speech on DVD) participation from Adventure Canada Link
18th Inuit Study Conference, “Learning from the Top of the World” Smithsonian – National Museum of the American Indian Washington, DC Oct 24-28, 2012 Screened Diet of Souls Link
Discussion of the collection with students, staff, Museum members Hood Museum, Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Sep 27, 2012
John Houston: Potential for Change in Arctic Culture in the 21st Century The ILEAD course at Dartmouth Hanover, New Hampshire Sep 27, 2012 Screened Diet of Souls same day There’s a poster in email from Mary. With the sponsorship of the Institute of Arctic Studies and the Hood Museum
Lecture: The interface between science and the Inuit oral tradition State of the Art Technologies for Marine Biodiversity University of Alcalá, Spain Nov 15, 2010
Northern Exposures: Four Views of the Arctic Plymouth State University (PSU) Plymouth, New Hampshire Nov 9, 2010 Ree Brennin present as discussant, screened Diet of Souls Link
Journey through the Northwest Passage, issues of tourism, shipping, and sovereignty Plymouth State University (PSU) Plymouth, New Hampshire Nov 9, 2010 Issues of eco-tourism, commercial shipping and sovereignty. Co-presentation with Ree Brennin
“The Way Forward” – speech on the future of Inuit art Cranbrook Institute, Michigan (Inuit Art Society) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Oct 10, 2010
John Houston: “An Inuit Perspective” Cranbrook Institute, Michigan (Inuit Art Society) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Oct 9, 2010
John Houston and Phil Power: “Coming To America – Inuit Art Crosses the Border” Cranbrook Institute, Michigan (Inuit Art Society) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Oct 8, 2010 Co-presentation
The Houston Period 1948-1962 and beyond Arctic Art Museum Society Vancouver Mar 23, 2010 Lecture and PowerPoint, sponsored in part by Adventure Canada Link
Born with Arcticus Feverous: an introduction to the life and culture of the North The Engine Gallery for Adventure Canada Toronto, Ontario Jun 21, 2009
Born with Arcticus Feverous: an introduction to the life and culture of the North The Atwater Library for Adventure Canada Montreal, Québec Jun 20, 2009
Guest-taught a Graduate seminar on Media, Identity and Diversity University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Mar 6, 2009 Screened Kiviuq for Denis Bachand’s class,which led to a thesis by Karine Bertrand Link
Constant projection of first five films for eight months Museum of Inuit Art (MIA) Toronto, Ontario 2009 – 2010
Special Guest at Silliman College Masters’ Tea Silliman College, Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Oct 9, 2008 With Master Judith Krauss Link
John Houston Discusses Inuit Art and Culture IdeaCity Toronto, Ontario Jun 19, 2008 Showed clips from my films Link
Co-presentation on Inuit culture to senators interested in the Arctic The Senate, House of Commons Building Ottawa, Ontario Nov 23, 2007 Sponsored by Adventure Canada
Opening speech for the exhibit “Inuit, a History Told by Art” The Bibler Collection at the Hockaday Museum Kalispell, Montana Oct 4, 2007
Launching an interactive website Acadia University Iqaluit, Nunavut Mar 29, 2007 Launching the Nanisiniq Inuit Qaujimajatuqanginnik (IQ) Website Link
Guest teaching Cynthia Alexander’s Political Science class Acadia University Wolfville. Nova Scotia Feb 7, 2007 During the making of the Virtual Learning Environment, inuitQ
Visited a group of Grade Two students with an Inuit elder Dalhousie Elementary School Calgary, Alberta Mar 3, 2006 Global TV aired a feature story on Houston’s school visit
Akitsiraq Nunavut law Students, guest-taught the class Nunavut Arctic College Iqaluit, Nunavut Jun 27, 1905 Screened Diet of Souls
Land of Ice, Hearts of Fire: Inuit Art and Culture gallery tour University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Oct 23, 2003 Led a gallery walk for docents and students, interpreting the collection
Interpreting a major exhibition of Canadian Inuit drawings The University Gallery of the University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Oct 22, 2003
Week-long celebration of Inuit culture Dennos Museum Art Center Traverse City, Michigan Feb 5th-ish, 2003 Cornerstone of the week’s events:screenings of “Songs in Stone: An Arctic Journey Home” and “Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts. Link
Nunavut History students, guest-taught the class Nunavut Arctic College Iqaluit, Nunavut 2003 Screened Nuliajuk
Keynote speech – Inuit Printmaking: Past, Present… and Future The Haffenreffer Museum Rhode Island Oct 6, 2001
Inuit printmaking demonstration – copresented with Andrew Qappik The Haffenreffer Museum Rhode Island Oct 6, 2001 Showed Songs in Stone and Nuliajuk all day long, with Q & A sessions
Inuit Jewellery and Metalworks Exhibition – Oprning Speech Houston North Gallery’s 20th Anniversary Lunenburg, Nova Scotia July 7, 2001?
Introducing Don Walp’s Collection of Inuit art Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, U. of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Feb 27, 2001
Constant projection of Songs in Stone for six months National Gallery of Canada Ottawa, Ontario 2001
Inuit Art History (a course delivered in Inuktitut) Nunavut Arctic College Iqaluit, Nunavut Nov 13-18, 2000
Lecture on Inuit art and culture, film screening Lafayette Museum, Purdue University Lafayette, Indiana Sept 26-28, 2000 Songs in Stone
Speech: Inuit Art during the last 50 years (the work of our family) Canadian Arctic Gallery Basel, Switzerland May 10, 2000
Speech: Introduction into Inuit Art (History, Development, Acknowledgement of Inuit Art by Museums Canadian Arctic Gallery Basel, Switzerland May 9, 2000
BEA Bern Exposition 2000 BEA Bern Exposition 2000 Bern, Switzerland Apr 28 – May 7, 2000 Songs in Stone Link
Conference on Inuit art – personal recollections, translation McMichael gallery Kleinberg, Ontario Jan, 1992
Demystification of Inuit Art – full semester course I designed Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Halifax, Nova Scotia 1988 Have the poster – check dates
Natural World Lecture: Backyard Biodiversity Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia Oct 2, 2014 The Six of Bees – Unveiling a new photographic “environment” Link
Inuit culture and Arctic wildlife biology Sir Charles Tupper School Halifax, Nova Scotia Feb 25, 2014 John Houston and Ree Brennin Houston presented to two grade 6 classes
Impact of Climate and Climate Change in the Arctic Region to Humans and Wildlife Walsh Middle School Framingham, Massachusetts Nov 16, 2012 Team teaching to nearly 300 Grade 5s, with PowerPoint – Ree Brennin Houston, John Houston and son Dorset
Two Very Different Ways of Knowing – Science and the oral tradition State of the Art Technologies for Marine Biodiversity University of Alcalá, Spain Nov 15, 2010 Clips from Nuliajuk, Diet of Souls Link
Elders’ insights add up to a powerful plea for respect and conservation State of the Art Technologies for Marine Biodiversity University of Alcalá, Spain Nov 15, 2010 Diet of Souls Co-presentation by John Houston & Ree Brennin
“Changing Climate, Changing Health, Changing Stories” 2 speeches University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario Jul 12, 2010 Screened Kiviuq, then Diet of Souls Link
ON THIN ICE: Addressing the Scientific, Economic, Environmental, Cultural and Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic Region Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, California Dec 8-9, 2008 Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies Link
Frontiers in Research Lectures: “The Disappearing North” University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Oct 15, 2008 Diet of Souls Link
Aboriginal, historical, and current commercial sealing in Canada Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario Sep 25, 2008 Lecture, Screened Diet of Souls
John Houston explores the Inuit view of the human/animal relationship University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Jun 5, 2008 Guest lecturer, Screened Diet of Souls
The North: A Unique Environmental Responsibility Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia Mar 14, 2006 Screened Diet of Souls prior to Mary Simon’s lecture, hosted Q & A
Walk well, my brother-walk well, my sister – Convocation speech Plymouth State University (PSU) Plymouth, New Hampshire Aug 30, 2005 Reflect on the influence of immersion in Inuit culture on my life and work Link
The Animals in This Country: A Canadian Literature Symposium University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario May 6-8, 2005 Keynote speech and screening of Diet of Souls I have the speech notes
Northern Travels and Northern Perspectives Symposium Wilderness Canoe Association Toronto, Ontario Feb 2, 2002 Feature presentation of Nuliajuk
Film Keynote: Voices of Inuit Elders: Filmmaking in the Canadian Arctic Snow Walkers Rendez-Vous, Hulbert Outdoor Center Fairlee, Vermont Nov 9, 2013 Afternoon screening of Diet of Souls Link Co-Sponsored by The Center for Circumpolar Studies, Consulate General of Canada, and Adventure Canada
Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts, Film and Introduction Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Nov 7, 2013 Screened Nuliajuk, Introduction by Marc Jacques, Consulate of Canada Link Co-Sponsored by The Center for Circumpolar Studies, Consulate General of Canada, and Adventure Canada.
Introduction of the festival’s Opening Film, “Diet of Souls” The Explorers Club New York, New York Nov 30 – Dec 01, 2012 Diet of Souls Link
Delivered the keynote speech Silver Wave Film Festival Fredericton, New Brunswick Nov 8-11, 2012 (I have my keynote on DVD) Link
Acceptance speech, the Donald Haldane Distinguished Service Award Directors Guild of Canada Toronto, Ontario Oct 20, 2012 (I think that speech was recorded…? There are pics.)
Meeting with Humanities majors and others interested in film Plymouth State University Plymouth, New Hampshire Sep 26, 2012
The Rise of Canadian Inuit Film Making – A Symposium and Film Festival The Canadian Studies Program, UC Berkeley Berkeley, California April 22-23 2011 Screened Diet of Souls, The White Archer Link
Diet of Souls (Film presentation and lecture on animism) Plymouth State University Plymouth, New Hampshire Nov 9, 2010 Diet of Souls
The White Archer, special festival screening for youth Yorkton Film Festival Yorkton, Saskatchewan May 27-30, 2010 The White Archer – Festival screening and screening in a school
World Première for The White Archer Canadian Museum of Civilization Hull, Quebec Apr 1, 2010 Special screening of The White Archer
Mini Inuit film festival, opening remarks Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Oct 11, 2008 Link
Festival screening, nearly two-hour Q & A for Kiviuq Tromsø International Film Festival Tromsø, Norway Jan 18, 2008 Screened Kiviuq. Headed a Nunavut filmmakers’ delegation, assisted by the Embassy of Canada. Link
Kiviuq V(ISION)FEST selection Mill Valley Film Festival Mill Valley, California Oct 4-14, 2007 Festival screening of Kiviuq, Helped by Canadian Consulate Link
A full day screening my films for hundreds of schoolkids, Q & A Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, Montana Oct 2-6, 2007 Arctic trilogy films
Screening of Kiviuq with filmmaker in attendance Calgary International Film Festival Calgary, Alberta Sep 25, 2007
World Première for Diet of Souls National Gallery of Canada Ottawa, Ontario Jun 21, 2007 Diet of Souls gala première screening and reception
Acceptance speech, Best Documentary Film award for Kiviuq Dreamspeakers International Aboriginal Film & Television Festival Edmonton, Alberta June 4-9, 2007 Festival screening of Kiviuq
Scriptwriting Workshop – facilitator Co-hosts IBC and drumsong communications Iqaluit, Nunavut Mar 16-21, 2007 in association with Nunavut Film
Inuit Storytelling event, with Inuit elder Annie Peterloosie University of Calgary, Rosza Centre Calgary, Alberta Jan 24, 2007 Co-presentation with Inuit elder Annie Peterloosie
World Première for Kiviuq Calgary Opera Calgary, Alberta Jan 23, 2007 Kiviuq gala screening emcee Don Hill (broadcast journalist & filmmaker)
World Première for James Houston: The Most Interesting Group of People you’ll ever Meet Calgary Opera Calgary, Alberta Jan 23, 2007 Gala screening for James Houston: The Most Interesting Group of People you’ll ever Meet
Presented Diet of Souls at Native American Film and Video Festival National Museum of the American Indian New York City, New York Dec 3, 2006 U.S. première Link
Speech and screening at the Calgary Zoo’s Safari Lodge Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) Calgary, Alberta Mar 3, 2006 Diet of Souls, speech, screening and cocktail reception
An Evening with John Houston: Film Screening and Lecture University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Oct 22, 2003 Hosted a public screening and discussion of the films, “Songs in Stone: An Arctic Journey Home” and “Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts.” Link The Houston screening and discussion is sponsored by the Government of Nunavut, Department of Sustainable Development; Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, as well as the Delaware Humanities Forum, the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Faculty Senate Committee on Cultural Activities and Public Events.
Inuit Films (Special screening of Atanarjuat and Nuliajuk) The British Museum London, England June 22-23, 2002 Nuliajuk
Arctic Film Showcase The Arctic Winter Games Iqaluit, Nunavut Mar 18-22, 2002 Songs in Stone + Nuliajuk
Gave a seminar on aspects of filmmaking Francophone Centre Iqaluit, Nunavut Mar 15-22, 2002 Presented Songs in Stone and Nuliajuk
Screening of ‘Nuliajuk’ and ‘Songs in Stone’ FilmPodium and Indianermuseum Zürich, Switzerland Mar 10, 2002 Opened by Canada’s ambassador to Switzerland, his Excellency Jean-Paul Hubert
Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts – Q&A on Animism & Shamanism Myhelan Film Festival Hackettstown, New Jersey Mar 1, 2002 Morning and evening festival screenings of Nuliajuk
Created and gave a workshop addressing needs of junior filmmakers Myhelan Film Festival Hackettstown, New Jersey Mar 1, 2002
Special Csreening of Nuliajuk Art Gallery of Ontario Toronto, Ontario Oct 10, 2001 Co-presented by broadcaster Bill Roberts, VisionTV CEO
World Première for Nuliajuk Canadian Museum of Civilization Hull, Quebec Aug 23, 2001 Nuliajuk gala première screening and reception
Special screening of ‘Songs in Stone,’ opening speech Canadian Embassy Copenhagen, Denmark Aug 14, 2000 Songs in Stone, introduced by Canadian Ambassador Mary Simon
Presentation of Songs in Stone, Speech: Where to from Here? Inuit Sunakkutaangit Museum Iqaluit, Nunavut Feb 17, 2000 Introduced by Ed McKenna of RWED
Festival Screening, speech, Q & A The Atlantic Film Festival Halifax, Nova Scotia Sep 18, 1999 Songs in Stone screening
World Première for Songs in Stone Canadian Museum of Civilization Hull, Quebec Aug 19, 1999 Songs in Stone gala screening In conjunction with the exhibition of Inuit art, Iqqaipaa
Aboriginal People Inuit Time & Space – lecture Adventure Canada Northwest Passage, Nunavut Annual Presentation With Powerpoint accompaniment
Guest taught an Anthropology Class Instituto Franklin University of Alcalá, Spain Nov 15, 2010 Nuliajuk
RARA Keynote Speech Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards Fort MacMurray Feb 20, 2010 Showed clips from my films (Have a copy of my speech)
Special presentation on Cape Dorset art (co-presenter) AGO / ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Toronto Ontario Oct 15, 2009 James Houston: The Most Interesting Group of People you’ll ever Meet Link
Claiming our Future Land Claims Coalition Conference Ottawa, Ontario May 12-15, 2009 Special screening of Diet of Souls, brief speech
Yale Peabody Museum Indigenous People Weekend Event Peabody Museum, Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Oct 10, 2008 Songs in Stone screening, Q&A, reception Link
Karen Nakamura’s Visual Anthropology class, guest teacher Yale University, Department of Anthropology New Haven, Connecticut Oct 9, 2008 Screened clips from Nuliajuk, Kiviuq, lectured
John Houston presents his Arctic Trilogy The Mashantucket Pequot Museum Mashantucket, Connecticut Aug 16-18, 2004 Screening and speech of one of the trilogy per day Visited each day by Smithsonian kids brought in by bus
Storytelling Ghost Stories with John Houston Adventure Canada Sable Island, Nova Scotia June 12-28, 2014 told ghost stories from Sable Island history and personal memories
A Celebration of Native American Cultures – Inuit Storytelling Yale Peabody Museum New Haven, Connecticut Oct 13, 2008 told ancient Inuit stories to children and their parents Link
What is Folk Art? Lecture, stories about folk artists Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Halifax, Nova Scotia 2008
Filmmaker Houston shares tales of Inuit sea goddess Houston North Gallery Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Dec 10, 2000 During the making of Nuliajuk Link
Inuit Stories I Grew Up Hearing BEA Bern Exposition 2000 Bern, Switzerland Apr 28 – May 7, 2000
Ann Meekitjuk Hanson and John Houston: Inuit stories from our childhood Adventure Canada Davis Strait, Nunavut Summer 1994 Co-presentation of traditional Inuit stories from memory