Indigenous Storytelling Month is held annual every February. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

celebrating

Library to host Indigenous Storytelling Month event

Feb 12, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The public is invited to La Ronge’s Alex Robertson Public Library this week to partake in an evening of Indigenous storytelling, song and dance.

The event, which is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m., is part of Indigenous Storytelling Month held in Saskatchewan every year in February. It will include songs from Métis singer Laura Burnouf, traditional storytelling by king trapper Franklin Carriere and traditional powwow dancing by Cathy Wheaton Bird.

The event is being hosted in partnership with the Alex Robertson Public Library and Roots of Hope.

“Storytelling is not necessarily happening as much as it used to,” Bird, who is also the local coordinator for Roots of Hope, said.

“When I used to talk to, especially my mother, she used to hear a lot of traditional stories being told to her in Cree [during] her whole childhood and we don’t know a lot of those stories, so events like this can actually be a way that more people can learn stories, and also just the whole activity of storytelling. It’s a big part of winter culture with families and in communities as well, so we are trying to keep it alive.”

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Bird explained Indigenous storytelling is a way to history and culture, while also having fun at the same time. She noted while she will be doing traditional powwow dancing at the event, dance is also a way to tell stories.

In addition to the event occurring at the library this week, Roots of Hope is also offering two other upcoming events not associated with Indigenous Storytelling Month. They include a workshop on Tuesday about coping with traumatic loss, as well as a second workshop on Feb. 20 about dealing with difficult feelings.

If the public is interested in either of those events, they can register by emailing Bird at cathy.wheaton@saskhealthauthority.ca. More details can be found on the Roots of Hope Facebook page.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com