The Sullivan Museum and History Center at Norwich University is hosting a spring Lunch N'Learn program on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 12 noon.

The program, Exploring Emotions: Examining Poetry and the Inuit Culture will feature John Bate.

John Bate has taught English at Montpelier High School for 42 years, traveled in the Canadian Arctic by canoe, plane, boat, and ski-do many times, and accompanied friends from the village of Kugaaryuk (Pelly Bay) on caribou, seal and walrus hunts. As he became familiar with the animals and birds in the Arctic , he has also heard a lot of stories some of which he will share with the audience. John Bate has also taught, read, and written poetry for most of his life!

This program marks the final month of the Sullivan Museum special exhibition Arctic Visions: 20th Century Inuit Art which includes 28 prints and sculptures from Dr. Robert Christie's (NU '44) collection of Inuit art. Inuit poetry or "songs" are also featured on the accompanying labels in the exhibit. These Inuit songs are often chanted spontaneously to celebrate the many activities in their lives—the hunt, a great happiness or sorrow, or other adventures.

The lunch time program is free and open to the public and is generously sponsored by Representative Maxine Grad in honor of her parents, Thelma and James Grad. The public is invited to bring along a sandwich and the Sullivan Museum will be providing soup—green pea soup, of course! The Sullivan Museum and History Center is located on the campus of Norwich University in Northfield. Call for directions and parking information at 802-485-2448.