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Storytelling Artists from Across Canada Gather for their 26th Conference in July!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2018
Storytelling Artists from Across Canada Gather for their 26th Conference in July!
Peterborough, Ontario: Storytellers of Canada – Conteurs du Canada (SC-CC), Canada’s only national arts organization representing the art of storytelling, will be holding its 26th annual conference this year, at Trent University from 4 – 8 July 2018. Storytellers of Canada strives to develop and nurture oral storytelling by connecting people, reflecting culture, and inspiring discovery through the art of storytelling.
This year’s conference theme is Mnaadendamin bezhig miligo dibishkoo ezhi-min-dendimindwaa kina; The Honour of One is the Honour of All; L'honneur de l'un est l'honneur de tous. Conference
organizers welcome award-winning author and storyteller from Curve Lake First Nation, Drew Hayden-Taylor as the Key Note speaker.
Storytelling from both Indigenous and Settler experiences will be offered and studied as a means of reconciliation through hearing others’ stories. Training workshops will be available for those who wish to take this journey to create a new story of reconciliation. Dinny Biggs, president of SC-CC and co-chair of the conference planning team stated “SC-CC is inspired by this year’s conference theme offering our largest ever program of professional development and networking opportunities, with options in both English and French languages.
We very much appreciate the leadership of local Indigenous Elders and artists involved in all aspects of conference planning and participation.” In addition to full day workshop and master class options, two public storytelling concerts are offered, as well as a one-act play that follows celebrated fiddler Anne Lederman’s personal story into the world of Aboriginal fiddling in northern Manitoba. “We’re thrilled with our line up and the quality of tellers from diversity of backgrounds sharing their stories and informing their audience of their purpose and the histories within ancient oral traditions and the art of storytelling”, says John Bennett of Norwood, co- chair of the conference planning team.
SC-CC will also be launching its 19th StorySave storytelling recording, this year recorded by renowned Indigenous artist, Louise Profeit-LeBlanc who is also a lead contributor to this year’s conference. “StorySave has offered me the opportunity to honour four of my mentors. It is important for all future generations to have this same opportunity to listen to and be inspired by the wisdom and essence of the teaching stories of Indigenous people of this country. These stories help to empower all of us so that we can build a better future for all of our descendants,” says Profeit-LeBlanc.
Conference guests have several options for registration, including the entire conference, or purchasing single-tickets for certain events, like a day pass that includes the key note address, workshops, meals and concert.
Visit these links for tickets: https://storytelling-evening-ticketsjuly-
5-6-7-trentu.eventbrite.ca and https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/oral-storytelling-conference-oneday-ticket-friday-july-6-2018-tickets-46481814358
Storytelling is the oldest human art form for all cultures. Peterborough, located on the traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabe covered by the Williams Treaty offers ample opportunities to learn about Indigenous and Settler communities, and the conference includes options to visit to Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Curve Lake First Nation, the Canadian Canoe Museum and Lang Pioneer Village. The collaboration in conference planning between First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University and SC-CC has encouraged this unique opportunity to bring together storytellers and knowledge keepers from across Canada and beyond.
For further information, contact John Bennett conference2018@storytellers-conteurs.ca or Marion Gruner, Communications and Development Manager development@storytellers-conteurs.
ca , or visit https://www.storytellers-conteurs.ca/en/conference.html
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the
Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to
Canadians throughout the country.