Borrowed Remedies and Hidden Histories A Free Public Lecture by Rebecca BensonJoin 2014 Margaret Angus Research Fellow Rebecca Benson for a lecture on the history of pharmaceutical manufacturing in North America.The history of North American plants that were packaged and sold by pharmaceutical companies is intrinsically linked to the fate and history of North America’s Aboriginal people. The lecture will present the research findings regarding two bodies of objects from the Museum of Health Care’s collection: nineteenth and early twentieth century patent medicines which used aboriginal imagery and ideology in their marketing; and a collection of herbs used by Canada’s indigenous people that were grown, packaged and sold by the Parke, Davis & Co. pharmaceutical company. These two case studies will be used to contextualize aspects of pharmaceutical history within indigenous worldviews and approaches to medicine and healthcare.No registration required. Refreshments will follow.Location: Watson Hall 217, 49 Bader Lane, Queen’s UniversityDate: Thursday, October 16th 2014 Time: 7:00 pm Cost: FreeParking: Free evening parking in Queen’s surface lots. Contact: Diana Gore or Ashley Mendes (613) 548-2419 or info@museumofhealthcare.ca.BIO: Rebecca Benson is of mixed Scottish, German and Indigenous descent. She completed an Undergraduate Degree with Honours in Philosophy and Art History at the University of Guelph, and will be graduating with her Master’s in Art History from Queen’s University this November. While at Queen’s she was inspired by the work of the Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre, was an Aboriginal QSuccess Mentor, and a member of both the Kaswentha Indigenous Knowledge Initiative and the Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Programming Working Group. She is passionately committed to the revitalization of indigenous culture and languages throughout TurtleIsland.
