MOOSE JAW — February marks Indigenous Storytelling Month in Canada, which is traditionally a time to slow down, reflect, and share stories as communities celebrate the oral traditions and teachings that define a people.
With nearly 130 events planned across Saskatchewan through the Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP) organization, this year’s program is set to feature Indigenous storytellers, musicians, and artists as they unite to share their knowledge and foster a sense of connection.
In Moose Jaw, Indigenous storyteller Carol Rose GoldenEagle will deliver a presentation at the Moose Jaw Public Library — another partner of the LSSAP — on Wednesday, Feb. 5, starting at 10:30 a.m.
“In the Indigenous tradition, wintertime is usually set aside for storytelling,” explained Jessica Generoux, the Indigenous Storytelling Month co-ordinator with LSSAP.
“Storytelling as a custom in Indigenous communities… is a very important way of… keeping their identity alive and maintaining that connection between those spiritual teachings, and (fostering) that spiritual understanding of the self and the connection there,” she shared.
Generoux has worked with GoldenEagle before and said the award-winning author “has so much love in her heart to share” and she “really connects with the children in a very positive and meaningful way.”
Another Indigenous motivational speaker and storyteller from the Waterhen Lake First Nation, Robert Gladue, will offer virtual storytelling with a focus on building a positive mindset and mental health and wellness for Indigenous men. Residents across the province can attend virtually while staying warm at home on Monday, Feb. 4, starting at 7 p.m.
Gladue’s upcoming presentation can be viewed online at LSSAP.ca.
“I had a difficult childhood surrounded by alcoholism and in order to get through those difficult times, I focused on culture,” Gladue said. “It was my ability to sing, to pick up the drum and use it for positive vibes, (and) it was a (new) lifestyle that led me to a better place.
“Storytelling is not just for entertainment to our people,” he continued. “Stories carry who you are; they teach you why life is the way it is and how to stay on the right path. They give you a solid foundation to stand on.”
The event will embrace a new name this year and be known as “Indigenous Storytelling Month” instead of “Aboriginal Storytelling Month,” a move that intends to be more inclusive.
The term “Indigenous” has replaced “Aboriginal” to better demonstrate respect for the First Nations people who are honoured as the first peoples of the land in North America. This inclusive term acknowledges the diversity of Indigenous nations — including Cree, Metis, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, Salteaux, Dene, and Inuit in Saskatchewan alone — and aligns with global reconciliation efforts.
“In many of our Indigenous languages, we refer to ourselves as the original people of the land,” Generoux explained. “We’ve always been here, our ancestors have been here for hundreds and hundreds of years, and there’s nowhere else where we came from but the land.”
Indigenous Storytelling Month is officially proclaimed by the Government of Saskatchewan in February throughout the province each year. The Moose Jaw Public Library is hosting GoldenEagle’s presentation as part of the government’s call to action to support reconciliation efforts, celebrate Indigenous culture, and to preserve the oral storytelling tradition.
“It creates that inclusive community by creating and offering programs for everybody and that highlight the importance of learning, collaborating, and coming together with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,” she added.
According to Generoux, around 75 to 80 per cent of Indigenous events hosted by the LSSAP are set in historically underserved rural areas, and the organization brings its programming to as many communities in the province as they can each year.
For more information including a full schedule of upcoming events visit LSSAP.ca.
The Moose Jaw Public Library is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
