It害羞草研究所檚 a history that has been passed from generation to generation through spoken word.

But, after countless hours of research and transcribing, Sage Birchwater transferred that oral history of the central Interior into the written word in his 2017 book, Chilcotin Chronicles, for which Birchwater will hold a book signing at Bookland Dec. 5 and slide show presentation at Okanagan Regional Library害羞草研究所檚 Vernon branch Dec. 6.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of history that was told of British Columbia excluded the indigenous people, so I made a point of including that perspective,害羞草研究所� Birchwater said.

The Island-born author was drawn to the region that lied beyond the mountains, separating the coast from the Interior. As a young man in 1973, Birchwater uprooted and headed to Williams Lake in the heart of what the locals refer to as the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast, where he has remained for more than four decades.

In the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Birchwater picked up the pen full-time and became a . And it害羞草研究所檚 a newspaper-bred style that has carried over to his book writing work.

害羞草研究所淚 apply the journalistic principle of telling a balanced story,害羞草研究所� Birchwater said. 害羞草研究所淓ach of my stories might have taken a month to research.害羞草研究所�

After a brief introduction from Birchwater, Chilcotin Chronicles: Stories of Adventure and Intrigue from British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 Central Interior begins with the roots of the province害羞草研究所檚 first European contact and the Royal Proclamation of 1763, and stops off at turning points in the region害羞草研究所檚 formation 害羞草研究所� such as the gold rush and Chilcotin War 害羞草研究所� while focusing on the lives and stories of influential Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast residents like Domas Squinas, James Lee (Jim) Holt and Louisa (One-Eye) Turner.

害羞草研究所淲hat was fascinating for me was connecting some of the ancient people to the people of today,害羞草研究所� Birchwater said. 害羞草研究所淭he Chilcotin is such a small community 害羞草研究所� a big area, but small community.害羞草研究所�

Now semi-retired from his role as a journalist, Birchwater continues to write historical columns for a William害羞草研究所檚 Lake newspaper, allowing him to connect with a larger audience and learn more about the history of his beloved region.

害羞草研究所淥ne of the interesting things of doing a piece in the paper is people read it and give feedback,害羞草研究所� Birchwater said, adding that readers often will provide him with leads and information on historical figures and events.

From going over archived reports and records, to interviewing local elders and transcribing their stories, it害羞草研究所檚 a process that Birchwater loves.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot of fun to be able to put it down and go back to them and say, 害羞草研究所業s this the story you told me?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Birchwater laughed, noting how details of a story change each time an oral history is told.

With nearly a dozen books under his belt and hundreds of newspaper articles, Chilcotin Chronicles is a work Birchwater is proud to share with Vernon audiences.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a history told from the perspective of the people in the Interior,害羞草研究所� Birchwater said. 害羞草研究所淚 really worked hard to get the full story.害羞草研究所�

Birchwater will sign copies of Chilcotin Chronicles Dec. 5 at Bookland from noon to 2 p.m. and present a slide show at the Okanagan Regional Library害羞草研究所檚 Vernon branch Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.