 In search of Coast Salish woolly dogs, the joy and healing power of birding, and an illustrated history of Vancouver's ChinatownNXNW May 17/18, 2025 | Welcome to the NXNW newsletter! This long weekend, we've got lots of great conversations on literature, gardening, and multimedia artworks. Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa and Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, discuss a new book on the extinct Coast Salish woolly dog. Dare to Bird's Melissa Hafting reflects on the healing power of birds, and Donna Seto shows us an illustrated history of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Looking for something from a past show? Check out our CBC Listen page. | | | Coming up on NXNW this weekend: | | | Saturday |  | Summer is coming, but the water is still cold in many parts of B.C. Kelli King is a physiologist at the University of Ottawa, and she shares their recent study on how cold plunges affect the body. | | | | | As part of our May gardening series, author and bee enthusiast Lori Weidenhammer joins us with a new edition of her book Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees. | | | | | CBC’s Grant Lawrence returns with the fourth chapter of his series Whale Tale, telling the story of a white whale tangled and drowning beneath the waves. | | | | | Writer and self-taught artist Donna Seto takes us through Vancouver’s Chinatown, sharing the history of the resilient Chinese community behind its unique architecture featured in her new illustrated book. | | | | | Sunday | | | NXNW intern Helen Wu catches up with classical violinist and textile designer Erin James, ahead of her cross-disciplinary concert showcasing the interplay between the visual and sonic worlds. | | | | | Birder and photographer Melissa Hafting takes us on a photographic journey with her new book, Dare to Bird, reflecting on spring birding and nature's healing power. | | | | | Acclaimed Anishinaabe artist Rebecca Belmore reflects on her past installations being displayed in VALUE, a new exhibition running May 15 - Oct 19 at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. | | | | | Author Liz Hammond-Kaaremaa and contributor Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, present The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog, a book blending rigorous research with oral history to illuminate the story of the now-extinct species. | | | | | | | | | The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog Book | | | The pelt of a dog named Mutton — discovered in a Smithsonian drawer by an amateur archivist — is believed to be the only known example of the now-extinct Coast Salish Woolly Dog. In The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog, author Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa collaborates with artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwuasultun, and other Coast Salish knowledge keepers to share Mutton’s story and explore the cultural significance of the Woolly Dog to First Nations.
The Teachings of Mutton is published by Harbour Publishing. | | |  | Eliot and Liz with a copy of The Teachings of Mutton. | | | | | | | Dare to Bird with Melissa Hafting | | | Melissa Hafting, the founder of the B.C. Young Birders program, explores the joy of birding and photography in her new book, Dare to Bird. The book is named after her popular blog and showcases her stunning bird images taken in North America. As a birder herself, Hafting talks about bird’s healing power that has helped her go through many challenges in life.
Dare to Bird is published by Rocky Mountain. | | |  | Melissa Hafting (Photo: Andrea Fernandez) | | | | | | | Fantasy Vignettes with Erin James | | | NXNW intern Helen Wu spoke with classical violinist and textile designer Erin James ahead of her upcoming concert, Fantasy Vignettes. Part of this year’s Tremors Festival launch event, the performance is a cross-disciplinary presentation that blends acoustic and visual elements. In their conversation, James shares the inspiration behind her costume design and reflects on the interplay between different art forms.
Fantasy Vignettes takes place next Sunday, May 25, at 7 p.m. PT at Progress Lab 1422 in Vancouver. | | |  | Erin James with the costumes and violins of Fantasy Vignettes. | | | | | | | In case you missed it... | | | Last week on NXNW, Margaret Gallagher visited the St. James Community Centre, where the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra was rehearsing for their upcoming 95th anniversary concert. She caught up with percussionist Liam Aldous, alum and board member Judith Fraser, conductor Nadia Petriw and artistic director Jonathan Girard.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's ninth anniversary concert is taking place at The Orpheum Theatre this Sunday, May 18. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT.
Stream this interview on CBC Listen. | | | | | Thanks for listening! | Have comments or suggestions you'd like to share? Email us!
The NXNW Team | | | | | |
