Working dissertation title: Fathoming the Coast: Marine Knowledge and Colonial Navigation in an Indigenous Seascape, 1774-1914
Jesse is a PhD candidate in History at the University of Victoria. His ongoing doctoral research examines Indigenous marine knowledge and colonial navigation on the coasts of Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula. Jesse has a professional background in historical consulting, having conducted oral histories, Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Studies, and archival research for government, private firms, and Indigenous clients. Jesse has written reports for Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and has authored a historical entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia. He has presented his research to audiences in Vancouver, Portland, Ottawa, and San Antonio, and to an online workshop on Canadian Coastal Histories. Jesse is a member of the Canadian Historical Association, Western History Association, and serves on the board of the Friends of the BC Archives. He is a founding member and facilitator for an educational dialogue series hosted by the Anglican Church to explore histories of white supremacy and anti-racism in British Columbia. When he’s not in the archives, Jesse can be found playing guitar from his porch or hiking the coastal landscapes he loves to research and write about.