The Capture of Ro Veidovi: A Pacific World Story in Our Local Lands

This presentation explores the remarkable story of Fijian chief Ro Veidovi, who was captured by the United States Exploring Expedition in 1840 and brought to America, where he died in 1842, but not before Commander Charles Wilkes named Vendovi Island in the San Juans in his honor. The talk traces Veidovi's journey from prisoner to friend aboard the expedition ship, revealing how personal relationships could transcend cultural boundaries even amid the violence of American Pacific expansion. Using primary sources and recent scholarship, the presentation demonstrates how this 19th-century encounter between Fiji and America continues to connect our local geography to global history. The story illuminates broader themes of exploration, cultural collision, and the ongoing responsibility to interpret the past from multiple perspectives.

Thyatira Thompson's Bio:
I spent a lot of my days growing up in Alexandria, Louisiana, being outside. After spending some time at LSU and at the University of Houston, I received a teaching degree which I turned into a 10-year career teaching in both Houston, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2017, I made a drastic decision to relocate from Louisiana to Vendovi Island, Washington to become a caretaker for the San Juan Preservation Trust, where I meld the duties of being a Ranger and an Ambassador, and sometimes an educator. I am a licensed Masters Boat Captain, and I am also an ABYC certified Marine Electrical Technician, certifications I have picked up along the way which allow me my passion to continue to evolve as a life-long learner. I am also a husband and father to 3 wonderful daughters.

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