When Trent University Indigenous Studies professor Heather Shpuniarsky learned that her most recent book was announced the winner of the F.H. Dobbin award by the Peterborough Historical Society, she was more than a little surprised.

“I think shock would probably capture it,” explained Professor Shpuniarsky of the announcement. “Once the shock wore off, I was very honoured by this award. The book committee was very excited as well.”

The F.H. Dobbin Award is awarded by The Peterborough Historical Society, a local not-for-profit organization, in honour of the publication of a major work with a focus on Peterborough’s past. Professor Shpuniarsky’s The Village of Hiawatha: A History does just that, exploring a number of topics in the history of the community of Hiawatha, which is located in the Peterborough area, not far from Trent University.

Prof. Shpuniarsky’s book, released in February, looks specifically at the origins of the Mississauga Anishinaabe people, the settlement of Rice Lake, treaty relationships and growth of the village of Hiawatha itself. The book draws on both oral histories and text-based sources in its telling of the history of the community of Hiawatha.  

The Village of Hiawatha Book Committee, a local volunteer group, assisted with the book and its publication. The committee worked for nearly four years to raise enough funds for the publication of the book and to compile the comprehensive history of the community.