Name: “The Astronomy of Northern Dene” (A Free, Virtual Lecture)
Start: 2026-10-21T23:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Zoom

Silhouetted pine trees stand in the foreground beneath a vast, starry night sky featuring the Milky Way in the background.

Hamptons Observatory

LXCL:Thank you for your interest in the free, virtual lecture, "The Astronomy of Northern Dene" on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM, ET. The day before the event, you will receive a reminder notice with the info you'll need to login. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at HamptonsObservatory@gmail.com

General admission

Photo: According to the Dene, a constellation that includes the Big Dipper represents the legend of a Traveller who lives in the stars. The Milky Way, seen here, is the Traveller&#39;s trail. Indigenous astronomies provide centuries-old models of knowing, being, and relating to the world. In this talk Chris Cannon will share his 17 year immersive experience learning from Northern <a fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dene" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Dene</a> elders across Alaska and Canada about their traditional astronomical knowledge. At the center of these knowledge systems is a Traveller figure who journeyed around the world in ancient time before incarnating among the stars as a massive constellation. The Traveller constellation is a gamekeeper, a teacher, a guardian, and the spiritual embodiment of all things. The Traveller, together with a host of other celestial and atmospheric phenomena like thunder and the northern lights, bridges the divide between earth and sky, instilling balance and instructing people on how to live with each other and their environments. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.uaf.edu/cxcs/about-us/contact-us.php" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Chris Cannon, Ph.D.</a>, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he is Chair of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies. He has worked with Northern Dene Elders and communities across Alaska and Canada since 2008. His work has been featured in the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/science/astronomy-yahdii-dene-alaska-native.html" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">New York Times</a>; in a recent PBS/NOVA documentary--&rdquo;Knowledge Keepers&rdquo;--on Dene star navigation (on-demand on <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/knowledge-keepers/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">PBS</a>); and in his recent book, <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2X81BY4?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">In the Footsteps of the Traveller: The Astronomy of Northern Dene</a>. Chris also serves on the editorial board for the Alaska Native Language Center and on the Board of Trustees for the University Press of Colorado. Hamptons Observatory extends its thanks to <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/majors-and-programs/science/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Suffolk County Community College</a> for its kind collaboration and Dr. Cannon for sharing his expertise. While Hamptons Observatory offers this and other public events free-of-charge, donations to support our programs are needed and deeply appreciated. You may make a tax-deductible donation to support our mission when you order your tickets for this event. We will receive 100% of the funds you donate, no fees will be deducted or paid by you. Please note: you are not obligated to also donate to Zeffy to &quot;Help keep Zeffy free for Hamptons Observatory,&quot; although Zeffy, too, would appreciate your support. Thanks! Hamptons Observatory (HO), a 501(c)(3) New York State nonprofit since 2005. Its mission: to foster interest in science, particularly astronomy, through educational programs. Lectures, star parties, portable planetarium shows and other events are held frequently and often in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations. HO has an observatory in East Hampton that needs to be replaced and for which we are fundraising. Once established, it will be used for in-person events, as well as accessible remotely to students, researchers, educators and the general public. We offer our public programs free of charge so that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and enjoy the wonders of the universe. We don&#39;t even charge membership dues. Instead, we rely exclusively on (and deeply appreciate) donations from individuals such as you. We also offer private star parties (for a contribution). For further information about us or to join our mailing list, please visit our website: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://HamptonsObservatory.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit;" target="_blank">HamptonsObservatory.org </a>

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{lastname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">Last name, Thank you for registering for Hamptons Observatory&#39;s free, virtual lecture on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM, ET: &ldquo;The Astronomy of Northern Dene,&rdquo; to be presented by Dr. Chris Cannon, Chair of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Please mark your calendar and save the information below in case you do not receive a reminder email: Click on the following link to login to the lecture:&nbsp; Zoom Link: <a fr-original-style=" system-ui, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86373572658?pwd=HSxdjqsaVSvJ6JtX9YJwmkr4HUao4Z.1" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-size: 14px; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86373572658?pwd=HSxdjqsaVSvJ6JtX9YJwmkr4HUao4Z.1</a> Meeting ID:&nbsp; 863 7357 2658 Passcode:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;8J0Q62 In the future, a recording of this lecture will be posted on&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.youtube.com/@hamptonsobservatory595/videos" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit;" target="_blank">Hampton Observatory&#39;s YouTube Channel.</a> If you have any questions, please don&#39;t hesitate to contact me. Meanwhile, thanks for your interest in our work. I hope you enjoy the talk! All the best,Donna L. McCormickExecutive Director<a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:HamptonsObservatory@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;">HamptonsObservatory@gmail.com</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://HamptonsObservatory.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://HamptonsObservatory.org</a>

Photo: According to the Dene, a constellation that includes the Big Dipper represents the legend of a Traveller who lives in the stars. The Milky Way, seen here, is the Traveller's trail. Indigenous astronomies provide centuries-old models of knowing, being, and relating to the world. In this talk Chris Cannon will share his 17 year immersive experience learning from Northern <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dene" target="_blank">Dene</a> elders across Alaska and Canada about their traditional astronomical knowledge. At the center of these knowledge systems is a Traveller figure who journeyed around the world in ancient time before incarnating among the stars as a massive constellation. The Traveller constellation is a gamekeeper, a teacher, a guardian, and the spiritual embodiment of all things. The Traveller, together with a host of other celestial and atmospheric phenomena like thunder and the northern lights, bridges the divide between earth and sky, instilling balance and instructing people on how to live with each other and their environments. <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/cxcs/about-us/contact-us.php" target="_blank">Chris Cannon, Ph.D.</a>, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he is Chair of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies. He has worked with Northern Dene Elders and communities across Alaska and Canada since 2008. His work has been featured in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/science/astronomy-yahdii-dene-alaska-native.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>; in a recent PBS/NOVA documentary--”Knowledge Keepers”--on Dene star navigation (on-demand on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/knowledge-keepers/" target="_blank">PBS</a>); and in his recent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2X81BY4?lv=shuf&amp;channelId=500&amp;plpRedirect=mhFallback" target="_blank">In the Footsteps of the Traveller: The Astronomy of Northern Dene</a>. Chris also serves on the editorial board for the Alaska Native Language Center and on the Board of Trustees for the University Press of Colorado. Hamptons Observatory extends its thanks to <a href="https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/majors-and-programs/science/" target="_blank">Suffolk County Community College</a> for its kind collaboration and Dr. Cannon for sharing his expertise. While Hamptons Observatory offers this and other public events free-of-charge, donations to support our programs are needed and deeply appreciated. You may make a tax-deductible donation to support our mission when you order your tickets for this event. We will receive 100% of the funds you donate, no fees will be deducted or paid by you. Please note: you are not obligated to also donate to Zeffy to "Help keep Zeffy free for Hamptons Observatory," although Zeffy, too, would appreciate your support. Thanks! Hamptons Observatory (HO), a 501(c)(3) New York State nonprofit since 2005. Its mission: to foster interest in science, particularly astronomy, through educational programs. Lectures, star parties, portable planetarium shows and other events are held frequently and often in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations. HO has an observatory in East Hampton that needs to be replaced and for which we are fundraising. Once established, it will be used for in-person events, as well as accessible remotely to students, researchers, educators and the general public. We offer our public programs free of charge so that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and enjoy the wonders of the universe. We don't even charge membership dues. Instead, we rely exclusively on (and deeply appreciate) donations from individuals such as you. We also offer private star parties (for a contribution). For further information about us or to join our mailing list, please visit our website: <a href="https://HamptonsObservatory.org" target="_blank">HamptonsObservatory.org </a>

Hamptons Observatory

“The Astronomy of Northern Dene” (A Free, Virtual Lecture)

Zoom

General admission

Free

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