Presented by the Sask Polytech Library
For Indigenous people, storytelling is both a gift, and a very old custom, sanctioned by the people to teach, entertain and remember.
Sask Polytech Library, with the support of the Indigenous Students' Centres, will be hosting Indigenous Storytelling events. These events are sponsored by Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP).
All Sask Polytech staff and students are welcome to join us at these events.
Event schedule
Moose Jaw campus
Marie-Anne Daywalker Pelletier: February 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Macoun Lounge
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier holds the title of the longest-serving elected chief in Canadian history.
From 1981 to 2020, Day Walker-Pelletier served as chief of the Okanese First Nation, located near Fort Qu’Appelle. During her illustrious career, she established the structure and policies of governance for Okanese First Nation. As chief, Day Walker-Pelletier was instrumental in helping Okanese First Nation develop and implement independent, Indigenous-led legislation concerning family and child services. Day Walker-Pelletier has worked tirelessly to advance women’s and children’s rights, founding the Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission and Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons. A strong advocate for women and children, she took part in numerous projects related to wellness, social reform and education to support the vulnerable.
She was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018 and a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2021.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier holds the title of the longest-serving elected chief in Canadian history.
From 1981 to 2020, Day Walker-Pelletier served as chief of the Okanese First Nation, located near Fort Qu’Appelle. During her illustrious career, she established the structure and policies of governance for Okanese First Nation. As chief, Day Walker-Pelletier was instrumental in helping Okanese First Nation develop and implement independent, Indigenous-led legislation concerning family and child services. Day Walker-Pelletier has worked tirelessly to advance women’s and children’s rights, founding the Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission and Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons. A strong advocate for women and children, she took part in numerous projects related to wellness, social reform and education to support the vulnerable.
She was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018 and a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2021.
Prince Albert campus
Jason Chamakese: February 1, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Location: Library
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Jason Chamakese is Plains Cree from the Pelican Lake First Nation and is an award-winning traditional flute player who began playing in 1998. In 2007, he started to travel extensively sharing his music throughout Canada, which also included the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He played at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in 2013. This was one of his most notable accomplishments as a touring musician. In 2015, he suffered a major stroke where he was given low odds of survival and placed in a coma and on life support. He survived and then began a years-long process of recovery. He recovered enough to return to school where he earned his bachelor of arts degree majoring in the Cree language from Blue Quills (BQ) University in Alberta in 2021. He most recently has successfully completed the masters of Indigenous Languages Program at BQ where he also recently worked as an language instructor. He is also a cast member of the APTN/Sportsnet Hockey Night in Canada in Cree broadcasts. His story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
He credits his language and culture for his recovery and for the successes he enjoys in his life and always maintains gratitude.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Jason Chamakese is Plains Cree from the Pelican Lake First Nation and is an award-winning traditional flute player who began playing in 1998. In 2007, he started to travel extensively sharing his music throughout Canada, which also included the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He played at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in 2013. This was one of his most notable accomplishments as a touring musician. In 2015, he suffered a major stroke where he was given low odds of survival and placed in a coma and on life support. He survived and then began a years-long process of recovery. He recovered enough to return to school where he earned his bachelor of arts degree majoring in the Cree language from Blue Quills (BQ) University in Alberta in 2021. He most recently has successfully completed the masters of Indigenous Languages Program at BQ where he also recently worked as an language instructor. He is also a cast member of the APTN/Sportsnet Hockey Night in Canada in Cree broadcasts. His story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
He credits his language and culture for his recovery and for the successes he enjoys in his life and always maintains gratitude.
Regina campus
Carol Rose GoldenEagle: February 1, 2024, at 12:30 p.m.
Location: Auditorium (Room 336)
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Carol Rose GoldenEagle was appointed Saskatchewan’s Poet Laureate in 2021. She was named a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2022 for her years of cross-cultural work within the arts and culture community.
Carol has several books on the market. Her fifth novel, Joe, will be released in 2024, as well as two of her children’s titles, Moss Guide and My Favourite Artist.
She is the author of the award-winning novel Bearskin Diary, which was chosen as the national Aboriginal Literature Title for 2017. The French language translation of this novel, entitled Peau D’ours, won a Saskatchewan Book Award in 2019. Her latest novel, The Narrows of Fear, won a 2021 Saskatchewan Book Award.
Other titles, including Hiraeth, Essential Ingredients, Bone Black and Stations of the Crossed, have been shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Awards. Another collection of poetry, Singing to the Moon - Indigenous Poetry for Children, will be released by Medicine Wheel Publishing in 2025.
Carol is Cree and Dene with roots in northern Saskatchewan.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Carol Rose GoldenEagle was appointed Saskatchewan’s Poet Laureate in 2021. She was named a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2022 for her years of cross-cultural work within the arts and culture community.
Carol has several books on the market. Her fifth novel, Joe, will be released in 2024, as well as two of her children’s titles, Moss Guide and My Favourite Artist.
She is the author of the award-winning novel Bearskin Diary, which was chosen as the national Aboriginal Literature Title for 2017. The French language translation of this novel, entitled Peau D’ours, won a Saskatchewan Book Award in 2019. Her latest novel, The Narrows of Fear, won a 2021 Saskatchewan Book Award.
Other titles, including Hiraeth, Essential Ingredients, Bone Black and Stations of the Crossed, have been shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Awards. Another collection of poetry, Singing to the Moon - Indigenous Poetry for Children, will be released by Medicine Wheel Publishing in 2025.
Carol is Cree and Dene with roots in northern Saskatchewan.
Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr.
Cheyenna Sapp: February 1, 2024, at 2 p.m.
Location: Room 104
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Cheyenna (Shy) Sapp, Plains Cree from Little Pine First Nation is an accomplished storyteller with a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a wîcehtowin Theatre Certificate. As a dedicated advocate for accurate
Indigenous representation, she excels in stand-up comedy and acting, notably in the CTV series "Acting Good." Shy's commitment extends to sketch comedy, where she portrays Mrs. Honeycomb on “The Feather News.” Her dynamic performances have graced stages across Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, including “The Deadly Aunties Comedy Tour” in the summer of 2023. In 2022, she took on the role of Sir John A MacDonald in the comedic production "Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibwe Rebellion" by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
Cheyenna (Shy) Sapp, Plains Cree from Little Pine First Nation is an accomplished storyteller with a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a wîcehtowin Theatre Certificate. As a dedicated advocate for accurate
Indigenous representation, she excels in stand-up comedy and acting, notably in the CTV series "Acting Good." Shy's commitment extends to sketch comedy, where she portrays Mrs. Honeycomb on “The Feather News.” Her dynamic performances have graced stages across Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, including “The Deadly Aunties Comedy Tour” in the summer of 2023. In 2022, she took on the role of Sir John A MacDonald in the comedic production "Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibwe Rebellion" by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Saskatoon campus, Ave W.
Cheyenna Sapp: February 1, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Location: Cultural Centre
Refreshments will be served after the event. Session will be livestreamed to programs taking place on Ave W campus due to limited space in the Cultural Centre.
Cheyenna (Shy) Sapp, Plains Cree from Little Pine First Nation is an accomplished storyteller with a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a wîcehtowin Theatre Certificate. As a dedicated advocate for accurate
Indigenous representation, she excels in stand-up comedy and acting, notably in the CTV series "Acting Good." Shy's commitment extends to sketch comedy, where she portrays Mrs. Honeycomb on “The Feather News.” Her dynamic performances have graced stages across Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, including “The Deadly Aunties Comedy Tour” in the summer of 2023. In 2022, she took on the role of Sir John A MacDonald in the comedic production "Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibwe Rebellion" by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Refreshments will be served after the event. Session will be livestreamed to programs taking place on Ave W campus due to limited space in the Cultural Centre.
Cheyenna (Shy) Sapp, Plains Cree from Little Pine First Nation is an accomplished storyteller with a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a wîcehtowin Theatre Certificate. As a dedicated advocate for accurate
Indigenous representation, she excels in stand-up comedy and acting, notably in the CTV series "Acting Good." Shy's commitment extends to sketch comedy, where she portrays Mrs. Honeycomb on “The Feather News.” Her dynamic performances have graced stages across Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, including “The Deadly Aunties Comedy Tour” in the summer of 2023. In 2022, she took on the role of Sir John A MacDonald in the comedic production "Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibwe Rebellion" by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Virtual and on-campus viewing parties
Tristen Durocher: February 6, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Locations: Virtual via zoom and on-campus viewing party locations.
On-campus viewing party locations for the 2024 virtual event (hosted by Indigenous Student Centres and Student Engagement):
Tristen Durocher knows that even small positive changes can lead to great things – and he has been instrumental in creating those changes. Inspired by the defeat of a suicide prevention bill in the Saskatchewan Legislature, Tristen created the Walking with Our Angels campaign to raise awareness of the disproportionately high rate of suicide among northern and Indigenous peoples, walking 635 km from his home in Air Ronge to the legislative grounds in Regina. He set up a teepee and started a 44-day ceremonial fast to convince the provincial government to adopt the bill it had recently voted down. The bill ultimately passed in April 2021.
On-campus viewing party locations for the 2024 virtual event (hosted by Indigenous Student Centres and Student Engagement):
- Prince Albert
- Kaykiyow Nassyoon Mamawapowuk En Plass / All Nations Gathering Place (Academic Building)
- Room G107 (Technical Building)
- Regina
- Pēžik Tēwē-ihkan, Pēžik Mihtē-ihkan / One Heart, One Drum Beat Indigenous Students' Centre (Room 153)
- Saskatoon, Idylwyld Dr.
- ê-sihtoskâtoyahk ᐁᓯᐦᑐᐢᑲᑐᔭᐦᐠ / Strengthening/supporting Each Other Indigenous Students' Centre
- Henri’s (main floor)
- Saskatoon, Ave W.
- Location to be determined
Tristen Durocher knows that even small positive changes can lead to great things – and he has been instrumental in creating those changes. Inspired by the defeat of a suicide prevention bill in the Saskatchewan Legislature, Tristen created the Walking with Our Angels campaign to raise awareness of the disproportionately high rate of suicide among northern and Indigenous peoples, walking 635 km from his home in Air Ronge to the legislative grounds in Regina. He set up a teepee and started a 44-day ceremonial fast to convince the provincial government to adopt the bill it had recently voted down. The bill ultimately passed in April 2021.
Support
Counselling Services will be available at each event, should any student need support.
Contact us
Please send any questions to help.library@saskpolytech.ca.
Funders, sponsors and partnerships
Saskatchewan Aboriginal Storytelling is made possible by Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples, the support of Indigenous Student Centres and these funders, sponsors and partnerships:
