Call Number: Mss 254, Pc 217, Tc 127 (A.99-44, A.99-92, A.03-13, A.03-123, A.04-207, A.04-208, A.04-209, A.05-112)

Title: Jill Oakes fonds.

Dates: 1989-1999

Extent: 0.69 m of textual records and other material.

Biographical sketch: Jill Oakes was born June 14, 1952. She received a Bachelor of Human Ecology (1975), an Education Certificate (1976), a Masters's of Science ((1985) and a Ph.D (1988) from the University of Manitoba. In 1982 she earned her commercial pilot's licence. Oakes began lecturing at the University of Manitoba in 1987 and is currently a professor in the Department of Environment and Geography. She has also lectured as an adjunct professor in the Departments of Anthropology and Human Ecology at the University of Alberta as well as in the Department of Anthropology and the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Manitoba. She has served as research associate for the Canadian Circumpolar Institute at the University of Alberta and from 1993-1994, was Chair of Northern Studies in the Department of Native Studies at Trent University. Oakes' many accomplishments include the development of a certificate program for Aboriginal students interested in environmental studies, and a Master's Program proposal for an IDP Master's in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba. This proposal included three new graduate level courses which were approved by Senate in 1995. Oakes' work with museum collections has taken her on collecting trips to Greenland, Northwest Territories, Alaska, and the Far East of Russia for the Bata Shoe Museum, the McCord Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and the Universities of Alberta and Manitoba. Oakes has researched, coordinated and curated many exhibitions including the travelling exhibition "Coats of Eider," and a documentary film directed by Oakes.

In 1995 Oakes received the University of Manitoba Outreach Award and an RH Outstanding Research Award as well as various awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Jill Oakes is the author of several publications and coordinator and co-lecturer in the Inuit Lifestyles Field Course conducted at numerous locations including Delta Marsh Research Station, Churchill Northern Studies Research Centre, Goose Bay, Labrador, Iqaluit, and Meanook Biological Station, University of Alberta.

Custodial history: The various accessions were donated by Jill Oakes and the Department of Native Studies in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Scope and Content: The A.99-44, A.99-92, A.03-13, A.04-207, A.04-208, and A.05-112 accessions contain records reflecting Oakes' teaching career as both an educator and writer. Included are Oakes' correspondence records regarding publication of her articles and reviewer's comments, Oakes' teaching dossier and her application for tenure. In addition to textual material, the collection contains 146 photographs and 8 negatives documenting various department of Native Studies functions and igloo building as part of the Arctic Lifestyles course. Also included is one audio cassette of a seminar "Braving the Cold: Continuity and Change in Polar Clothing" held in Leiden, The Netherlands.

The A.03-123 and A.04-209 accessions consist of materials related to Oakes' research including correspondence, product development and marketing reports for the Minnguq Sewing Group. Also included are numerous artifact cards for the various materials collected by Oakes and her husband Rick Riewe on their collecting trips and for display in Oakes' exhibitions. The photograph collection includes one photo album (116 photographs) of the Minnguq Sewing Group of Broughton Island, 76 photographs and 75 negatives from Oakes trip to Denver, Colorado museums in 1997 and 4 VHS and 9 U-matic videocassettes documenting birdskin clothing preparation for the "Coats of Eider" project. Also included are 2 audiocassettes describing the birdskin clothing process; much of the commentary contained on these audiocassettes is in Inuktitut.

Source of supplied title: Title based on provenance of fonds.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Accruals: Further accruals to this fonds may be expected.

Finding aid: Printed finding aids are available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 254, PC 217, TC 127 (A.99-44, A.99-92, A.03-13, A.03-123, A.04-207, A.04-208, A.04-209, A.05-112)