Kennetch Charlette was invited to attend the National Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration in Prince Albert.  (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Preserving culture

Indigenous storyteller shares technology can be used for good

Jun 22, 2023 | 2:00 PM

An elder from Northern Saskatchewan says it’s up to parents and grandparents to ensure indigenous youth know their connection to their land and their culture is stronger than the one they are getting through their phones.

Kennetch Charlette, originally from Sandy Bay, but currently living and working out of Hall Lake, was asked to attend Wednesday’s National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in Prince Albert and tell stories. He also shared the relevance of stories.

“I talked to an elder one time and he said technology is actually a wonderful thing but out of balance it’s a killer,” Charlette replied, when asked by paNOW if there was a concern storytelling may be lost on today’s younger generation.

Charlette explained when you see kids in their phone, there’s a message being given, and so it’s important as parents we use that as a tool and ensure good messages are being sent.

“And a part of that message is the connection they are making on that phone is nothing compared to the connection they can make from the land and their connection to our creator,” he said.

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Charlette also explained the responsibility falls on parents and grandparents to ensure technology is used to show how to be a good human being; how to be social to your neighbours, family and friends.

The storytelling tipi was one of many erected along Prince Albert’s riverbank. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Looking back on his own childhood, Charlette fondly recalled storytelling came in various forms from his parents and grandparents and happened while either sitting around a campfire or at a ceremony.

“What molded me today came about through a lot of those stories,” he said.

Charlette explained the best way to engage people through storytelling is telling the truth, adding truth exists in very breathing moment of our lives but as people, who search daily for happiness and our place in the world, we maybe just haven’t seen it yet.

He also added the one truth is we are all spirits from the spirit world who live this life and when we die we return to the spirit world

“What that teaches us is there is only spirit, the great spirit,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell