Storytellers gather at First Peoples’ House of Learning
The Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada (SC-CC) annual conference takes place at Trent University July 4-8. This year, SC-CC is partnering with the First Peoples’ House of Learning at Trent to present on the theme, The Honour of One is the Honour of All.
The event officially starts July 5 at 5 p.m. and closes with a luncheon Sun., July 8. The keynote speaker Friday is award winning author, playwright, and humorist Drew Hayden Taylor.
The pre-conference, July 4 and 5, features masterclasses and field trips. There are four masterclasses offered. Mouth to Mouth, Heart to Heart, is a workshop that focuses on storytelling with young children inclusive of varied languages and cultures, led by Ruth Danziger and Maria Ordonez in the a.m., and Mariella Bertelli in the p.m. Thresholds in Life and Fairy Tales, with Michelle Tocher will explore the departure and return thresholds in fairy tales and folktales. The Spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Support Group (KTRSG) Quilt with Alice Olsen Williams, Curve Lake First Nation, will involve a presentation of the artist’s story of her Anishinaabe life and influence in her growth as a quilter. The Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group Quilt will be on display in this session and throughout conference. Radio Documentary-Makers: Making Rain with Chris Brookes is sold out.
The field trips offered July 5 include choices to Curve Lake Cultural Centre, Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Canadian Canoe Museum and Lang Pioneer Village, including a guide, admission and transportation.
The conference, July 6-8, includes workshops, meeting Elders-in-residence, sunrise ceremonies, professional training, networking, story swaps, campfires, gatherings, three concerts, a barbecue, buffet, and an Indigenous Feast. Meals and refreshments are all included. Members are also invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on the mornings of July 7 and 8.
Three unique evening performances are scheduled as part of the conference. Individual tickets may also be purchased in advance for $20 or at the door at 7 p.m. the night of the event, prior to the 7:30 start. Comment Ne Pas Oublier? How Not to Forget? takes place July 5 at Gzowski College. Pat Bissett, Sylvi Belleau, Mary Hays and Doreen Vanderstoop, and Petronella van Dijk will perform true stories in French and English from settler accounts influencing Canadian history. The Honour of One is the Honour of All is scheduled for July 6 at Gzowski College. Indigenous and non-Indigenous tellers including Louise Profit-Leblanc, Rene Meshake, Dawne McFarlane, and Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective will present a variety of performances. On July 7 Spirit of the Narrows will be performed at Wenjack Theatre. Created and written by Anne Lederman and performed by Anne Lederman and Capucine Onn, this play is a story of one woman's journey into the world of Aboriginal fiddling in northern Manitoba.
The cost for the conference is $350 for members and $375 for non-members. There are also additional ticket options available, from $150-$175, including a one-day pass for July 6, a preconference masterclass option for July 4, and guest passes. Tickets for the field trips cost $20 per person and there are also individual tickets available for the three different storytelling evenings.
For further information, to register for the conference, or to purchase individual tickets visit www.storytellers-conteurs.ca/ en/conference/Conference-2018Peterborough.html