Harmony Johnson-Harder with her painting “Kookum Magic”. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Storytelling

Prince Albert artist believes in building bridges through storytelling

Feb 7, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Prince Albert’s Harmony Johnson-Harder believes firmly that everyone has a story and we can build bridges when we take the time to sit down and listen to each other.

As part of Aboriginal Storytelling Month, she was invited on Tuesday to do several presentations at the John M. Cuelenaere library and spoke to students from both Carlton Comprehensive High School and St. Michael’s. She told paNOW everything we look at has a story.

“And once you understand its story or learn its story, with the land or people, you start to relate to it and understand it and that creates a common denominator and connects people in better ways,” she explained.

Johnson’s presentation was the outcome of a project she and her late father Harold Johnson embarked on three years ago. Harold, an acclaimed author in his own right, passed away in Feb. 2022.

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His portion of the project was to write the short story, while Harmony then translated it into a painting. Together they told the story of resiliency and respect through a young girl (Harmony’s grandmother) who is sitting with her grandmother, sharing stories. Johnson-Harder noted that both she and her father have a passion for symbolism.

“When I look at this painting only I know what some of these pieces mean and it sparks that memory and I can tell that story,” she said.

Johnson-Harder, who likes to reach her audience through both visual and hands-on teaching methods, got the students to create their story sticks. Each stick was personalized and crafted to the student’s own story. And concerning her message to students, Johnson-Harder said she encouraged them to be creative

“Everyone has a unique and important story and let’s just listen to each other’s story,” she said.

Johnson-Harder prepares to speak to a class from St. Michael’s. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Harold Johnson passed away in 2022 and his work has been nominated for several literature awards. When asked how it felt representing three generations of storytellers, Johnson-Harder joked all her life all she’s ever known is stories.

“Right down to the house that I live in. I love having a good story about that house,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell