MOOSE JAW — Indigenous storyteller and author Kung Jaadee recently concluded her stay in Moose Jaw where she shared her message of love for self and others as part of a province-wide tour organized by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) this October.
During her tour, Jaadee performed at three schools including Empire Community School on Oct. 1, Sunningdale Elementary School on the morning of Oct. 2, and King George Elementary School on the afternoon of Oct. 2.
“My Haida name is ‘Moon Woman,’” Jaadee said as she introduced herself. “My cousin Crystal (Robinson) gave me this name and she’s asked me to acknowledge her every time I use it, so I acknowledge her every day.”
Jaadee is a member of the Haida, Musqueam, and Squamish First Nations and authored four children’s books including Raven’s Feast. Her presentations bring together stories and legends from her ancestors and introduces students to traditional Indigenous customs, regalia, and storytelling through performance.
This tour marks the third time Jaadee has visited Saskatchewan after a couple earlier presentations at the Fringe Theatre in Saskatoon.
“I have been really warmly welcomed (here in Saskatchewan), like as soon as I got off the plane…,” she said.
Since arriving, Jaadee said her interactions have contrasted with what she’s come to expect in Vancouver. Here, she said, “people (are) so great (and) they were so welcoming.” This experience got her thinking.
“Even the people (back home) who are walking on the street are not as kind as they were before the pandemic,” she observed.
She described this as people living “in their own little bubble” and said it feels selfish.
“It’s not like they’re looking to try and figure out how to make this world a better place… which is what I’m working hard to try and do,” Jaadee said. “But it’s not really just for me. It’s actually for everybody else too because we all have to live here. We don’t have a choice — there is no other planet.
“(During my presentations) I like to remind people that they have tens of thousands of ancestors in the next world, and they love them always. They’ve always loved them (and) they will always love them,” she said.
Jaadee always assigns homework to her new students — with a twist.
“I tell people to remember that (they’re always loved and worthy of love), and to remember (their ancestors) and hug themselves every day for as long as they live,” she said. When the occasional student says they haven’t been doing their homework, Jaadee reminds them that this change must be self-initiated.
“No, you cannot wait. You need to do this now, because by loving yourself and learning to love yourself unconditionally, you will grow into that good person that you want to be,” she explained.
“But we’re not taught that… I don’t know what happened to us as a human race, but it sort of fell by the wayside or it just became very difficult,” she said. “But I would say that this is an act of truth and reconciliation. (Loving ourselves) is an act of decolonization… because originally, when our world was new, we knew how to do this. Now we need to learn how to do this again. It’s extremely important.”
Jaadee doesn’t always have time to ask for feedback from students and teachers. Still, the occasional message gets through to remind her of the impact she’s made.
“This morning, I heard from one of the teachers (at Sunningdale Elementary) who just really, really thanked me,” Jaadee said. “It actually looked like she was on the verge of tears; she was really very touched. She liked the message.”
OSAC helps connect artists, performers, and storytellers with audiences across the province. To learn more visit OSAC.ca. The organization is supported by Saskatchewan Lotteries, the main fundraiser for more than 12,000 sport, culture, and recreational groups since 1974.
To learn more about Kung Jaadee visit Artsiq.ca/Kung-Jaadee.
