Indigenous Storytelling

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Presented by the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Library 

February is Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month, a province-wide initiative led by Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples Inc. (LSSAP). Throughout the month, storytelling events are held in libraries and partnering organizations to support, celebrate, and promote First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditions, history, language and culture. 

Storytelling is an old custom, often used as a teaching tool and to share knowledge. It is a gift that is shared during the winter months when there is time to slow down and reflect deeply on the multiple lessons to be learned from a single story. While the tradition of storytelling is ancient practice, the content of a given story may be contemporary. 

Event schedule

All Sask Polytech staff and students are welcome to join us at these events. Counselling Services will be available at each event, should any student need support.

Storytellers

Rick Daniels

Elder

Biography

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Rick Daniels

Elder Rick Daniels is originally from the Mistawasis Nehiyawak First Nation. He is a residential school survivor, having attended St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, SK from kindergarten to grade five. His father worked on the railroad and the family moved frequently after Elder Rick left residential school. They moved to Saskatoon in 1962, and Elder Rick has lived there ever since. Elder Rick attended St. Paul’s High School for grades nine and ten, then quit school to work.

At age 25 he started to work in the electrical trade, attending training in Moose Jaw and working mostly in Saskatoon for about 11 years. After working on different jobs after leaving the electrical trade, Elder Rick was encouraged by friends to go to university. He attended First Nations University of Canada and completed his Bachelor of Social Work degree and Arts degree in 1991. Elder Rick took a job with SIAST (Kelsey) in 1992, which is now Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He worked as an educational counsellor in the Basic Education program for 22 years, retiring in 2014. About two years later he was asked to do some work for Sask Polytech, which led to more requests for different programs. He continues to be involved with Sask Polytech and loves it.

George Fayant

Indigenous storyteller

Biography

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George Fayant

George is a proud Métis man born and raised in southern Saskatchewan near the Qu’Appelle Valley. George comes from a family of construction workers and carpenters and has been involved in the industry for over 30 years. He started working for his father’s company when he was 14 years old. They sided, shingled and painted all the Pioneer grain elevators throughout the three prairie provinces. 

George went on to attain his degree in business administration from the First Nations University of Canada/University of Regina in 1998 and spent several years in various governmental and non-governmental organizations working in the administration field.

George has been building Red River Carts since 1998. He builds them in various scales and gives presentations and workshops on the history of the carts and how they were built using antique tools. George has given numerous presentations at elementary, community and high schools as well as the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. He has been a longtime presence at Regina’s annual Indigenous People’s Day celebration.

Darrell Hawman

Knowledge Keeper

Biography

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Darrell Hawman

Knowledge Keeper Darrell Hawman is from Moose Jaw. He is the president of the New Southern Plains Métis Local 160, program coordinator for Urban People Indigenous Program, and is a Métis archive historian (Red Cart). Knowledge Keeper Darrell previously worked for 15 years in hotel management, was self-employed for a decade and sat on the board of governance for the Gabriel Dumont Institute for nine years. He regularly works with Indigenous students at the Moose Jaw campus of Sask Polytech.

Harmony Johnson-Harder

Producer, artist and community developer

Biography

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Harmony Johnson-Harder

Harmony Johnson-Harder is a Cree Métis woman and band member of Montreal Lake Cree Nation, deeply rooted in her community. With extensive experience in justice, recreation, and social support, she is dedicated to creating spaces where children and adults can freely express themselves and flourish. 

Harmony has built her career around social justice, cultural programming, and community-based initiatives. During her time at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre in La Ronge, she fostered her passion for empowering communities. As chair of the La Ronge Arts Council, she developed community arts programs and led the creation of a strategic vision, which increased community engagement and membership. Harmony is a founding member of the Lodgepole Arts Alliance, a national Indigenous-led arts and presenters organization.

A versatile artist and creative, Harmony’s work weaves storytelling, symbolism, and her Indigenous worldview into powerful imagery through mediums such as oil, acrylic, fabric, and mixed media. Her belief in the therapeutic properties of art drives her work as an expressive arts facilitator and yoga teacher, where she leads arts and wellness programs in various communities. She is also expanding her creative pursuits into film and writing. 

As the daughter of the late Harold Johnson, an award-winning author, Harmony carries forward her father’s legacy of storytelling. Their collaboration on “Kookum Magic” honours the generational power of stories, connecting past and present.

Violet Naytowhow

Elder

Biography

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Violet Naytowhow

Elder Violet Naytowhow is a member of Sturgeon Lake First Nation. She is a residential school survivor, having attended St. Michael’s in Duck Lake from the ages of 6-16. In her younger years, Elder Violet enjoyed hunting with her husband, cooking, and making bannock. She routinely participates in traditional ceremonies and is a powwow, square and round dancer. She loves to travel, frequently joining her daughter, Pearl, for adventures. Elder Violet is passionate about helping others whenever she can, and her warm and outgoing personality makes her gifted at connecting and supporting community members.

Funders, sponsors and partnerships

Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling month events are made possible by financial support from LSSAP, Indigenous Students’ Centres, select programs at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Campus, Ave. W and these funders: 

Contact us

Questions? Please contact help.library@saskpolytech.ca.