Leah Dorion reads her children's book at the Mann Art Gallery on Satuday. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Métis Culture

Aboriginal Storytelling with Leah Dorion

Feb 16, 2020 | 2:43 PM

It is Aboriginal Storytelling Month in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Writers Guild and the Mann Art Gallery hosted Métis artist and writer Leah Dorion to share her gift on Saturday.

Dorion, who was raised in Prince Albert, said these events are great to promote to all age groups.

“Just really want to encourage people to think differently to know the roots of things,” she said.

She added it’s important for people to know about aboriginal story telling because it elevates the story of Métis people within the province.

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“I think there’s been a lack of knowledge and it just brings that cultural knowledge to light and it makes people really think ‘wow we share some more in common then we realize’’” Dorion said.

Leah Dorion reads her new book at part of Aboriginal Storytelling month in Saskatchewan. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

During the 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. session with Dorion, she went through her children’s book Métis Camp Circle: A Bison Culture Way of Life.

It’s her newest book that came out this past fall. She added schools are starting to use the book as part of their curriculum.

“I’m just so happy. I’m really pleased to tell this story,” she said. “Teachers are expected to teach about Metis historical development, and they’ve had no resources. So now it takes the pressures off any kind of educator in the system to feel comfortable talking about Métis history.”

The book is about the Métis development with the bison and how much the bison affected the community, culture and social development.

The story is also available in Michif language, which she said is the Métis language of the high plains.

“It’s really an endangered language,” she added.

Dorion said she does all the writing and illustration in her children’s books and they take around a year to complete.

“They take a while but that’s really the beauty of it is that you can take the time to really tell your story visually and since I’m a writer I actually really have fun bringing my sentences to life with art,” she said. “And I get to tell with visual art what I see in my writing.”

“Not all writers can take it to that level. I’m very blessed I can do both.”

She said she needs to have a good story down on paper before beginning painting.

“I have to have the story in place first. If I don’t have a really good story, I just can’t get that energy,” Dorion explained. “It takes a lot of physical effort to birth that many paintings for a children’s book.”

Dorion also does poetry and currently has an art show in Regina with both painting and poetry on display.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12