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Paula LaPierre

Paula LaPierre

Kwey. My name is Paula.

I am an indigenous woman of Kichesipirini, Kichi Sibi Anishnabe heritage, fortunate enough to be living in my unceded community territory in the Pembroke, Ontario area of Canada.

It is such a beautiful place to live, with such a rich history. So many stories to tell!

I have been telling stories, writings stories, and illustrating stories as long as I can remember.

But more importantly, I have been listening to stories, remembering stories, and being impacted by stories since a girl visiting my own grandmothers.

I have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by great story tellers all my life, and I hope to continue forward their valuable contributions. My life experience has taught me that the practice of storytelling is as much the practice of deep listening. I spent many years waiting and listening as stories took on their own life and existed in their own time. I hope to encourage the development of that important life skill through my stories.

Most of my stories focus on my family’s experience as participants in the 7 Fires Confederacy era during those important times of our shared history in Canada.

Because my story experience was very much  connected with people, the natural and material world around me, surrounded by a backdrop of shared activities I have tried to create a story telling method that replicates the experiences I remember.

Currently I am combining spoken word, written word, original illustrations, archival documents and what I call simple tech to tell historical stories in a new way. I am primarily using a video broadcast story telling method that incorporates what I call my PSST Bundle. Paper, scissors, simple tech.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/KichiSibiStoryTellerto see sample videos and learn more about booking events.

I strongly believe, and my young friends continuously remind me, embracing change is important. As my ancestors inform me remembering our history and the lessons it provides is just as important. Because in my lived experience the historical stories always existed in surroundings and experiences loaded with important symbols, I try to replicate that in my storytelling offerings. I try to tell the stories in the environment I remember experiencing them. Each story carries images and symbols that reflect some oft he most important values of the Anishnabe culture and become increasingly better understood as the story relationship builds. Story participants become history detectives as we listen and look for clues and evidence in the stories together.

I provide the listener with after-story activities that compliment and personalize the story.

Just as in life, I have stories for different age groups, and stories that adapt as we grow older.

I have involved young people in the making and sharing of my stories for many years. I hope that process and relationship continue for many more years. My young contributors assist me as we use video to create new models of engagement, shared learning, and increased understanding of our interesting past. Thousands of years of local indigenous story telling has gained a new medium to add to the bundle.

Please join me and visit often as we make new videos available, provide print outs and story kits. I hope to host live streaming events, workshops, and in person visits that will encourage a new generation of listeners and tellers.

Thank you. Migwetch.


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