James T. Powers

James T. Powers first developed a life-long love of history while growing up in the old industrial town of Wallingford, Connecticut where he came to realize that the past was all around us and that by connecting to it we could come to better understand who we are. Following graduation from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, James committed himself to a career of sharing that love through the teaching of history.

As an historian, archaeologist, lecturer, and educator for 40 years, throughout his career James has studied and taught about Early American history and Native American life and culture. His interest in the Quinnipiac and his desire to share the story of the Quinnipiac experience has been furthered through his research while involved in the establishment of the Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum at the Dudley Farm Museum in Guilford, Ct. where he currently serves on the board of directors and is a founding member. James is also a student of Celtic and Native American Shamanism which has given him insights into how that belief system shapes the world view of the cultures where shamanism is practiced. Besides a BA, James also received two Master's Degrees from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

Shadows Over Dawnland has recently been released by The Beacon Publishing Group (www.beaconpublishinggroup.com). An historical novel, Shadows Over Dawnland chronicles the historic events that confronted the Quinnipiac, the Indigenous people who called Southern Connecticut home, when English colonists arrived to settle among them. Set during the years 1630 to 1686, Shadows Over Dawnland tells the tragic story of the impact the English arrival had on the Quinnipiac through the eyes of a shaman who struggles to save his people and their way of life.

James will also have another book released on October 29, 2021 by John Hunt Publishing in the United Kingdom (www.johnhuntpublishing.com) as part of the publisher’s Earth Spirit Series along with those of authors from the UK, U.S., Canada, and Australia. Ancient Wisdom, Modern Hope; Relearning Environmental Connectiveness looks at the arrival of indigenous people in Southern New England and how their eco-spiritual world-view facilitated a harmonious nature based existence and how that view and their way of life was fractured by the arrival of European traders and settlers and the philosophy that has since dominated.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Hope calls for a realignment of modern attitudes with traditional indigenous values and beliefs… a return to or development of eco-spiritual values in our modern society. It’s an important message for our culture to transform our relationship with nature and the environment as we confront the growing climate crisis.

James is the author of three other nonfiction books on topics associated with historical events and developments in Connecticut history; Saving the Farm; A Journey through Time, Place, and Redemption, Seeing the Past; Stories on the Trail of a Yankee Millwright, and the latest, On the Edge of Uncertainty; The Siege and Battles of Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War, 1636-1637.

More information on books by James as well as updates can be found at his website, www.authorjtpowers.com.

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