Author Randy Morin poses with two of his children's books, he's currently working on a third one. (Submitted photo/Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples)

By Alison Sandstrom

Sparking Healing and Imagination

Big River FN author and storyteller featured in Aboriginal Storytelling Month

Feb 2, 2021 | 5:13 PM

A storyteller and author from Big River First Nation is sharing traditional Cree stories on Youtube as part of Aboriginal Storytelling Month.

“We have to capture these stories,” Randy Morin, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a language and culture activist told paNOW. “People have to know these stories, to have that connection to the land, to where we come from.”

The storytelling sessions with Morin are presented by the Wapiti Public Library and are among dozens of online offerings from libraries across the province for Aboriginal Storytelling Month. Other virtual events include cooking classes, musical performances and poetry readings.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum will also be posting recordings of 14 Indigenous stories throughout February in a video series.

Morin explained teachings about human connection, generosity and trust are woven throughout many Indigenous stories, and the narratives can be influential in healing and character development.

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“How to strengthen your character to be more kind, more forgiving, more generous, more compassionate – the world needs that, our young people need that,” he said. “So that’s why I tell these stories.”

Lessons about the inherent power of Indigenous people are also embedded in many of the tales.

“Power to talk to animals, power to fly, power to shape-shift,” he said. “To me that just sounds so good because that ties us to the past, that we were great, we had a lot of supernatural powers and abilities.”

Morin said he hopes people can activate their imaginations listening to stories shared by him and other storytellers this month.

“And learn something about the past that can help them in the future,” he continued.

He also wants to inspire people to tell their own stories, along with and capturing and recording stories from their communities.

“Go back to the Elders, go back to your community Knowledge Keepers, learn a sacred story or two to tell your grandchildren,” he encouraged.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom