b'INDIGENOUS STORYTELLINGSHAPING THEIR OWN STORIESIndigenous writers are reclaiming their stories and sharing them with the worldC anadas colonial pastBy Bryan Hansen writers gain a lot of attention within the Its about truth and reconciliation, has historically left theAnderson says of Goodminds promotionCanadian literary scenewriters like Lee telling and shaping ofof Indigenous writers. Storytelling hasMaracle, Cherie Dimaline, Drew Hayden Indigenous peoplesalways been there, but of course those thatTaylor and Tomson Highway, to name stories to the settlers. Today, Indigenouscame across had their own stories and notjust a few. We see our authors creating people are reclaiming and taking owner- many listened to our stories, our truths,something Indigenous, of their own that ship of their stories, recognizing thatour history. reflects their culture, language and history, only through their own storytelling canAnderson explains that there has alwaysyet adapted to a [written] format created by they ensure their stories are not definedbeen a historical disparity between oral andsomeone else, says Anderson simply. by others.written traditions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures in Canada. We talkDenise Bolduc is Anishinaabe from the Dr. David Anderson, Spirit Nameabout our Elders and our knowledge andLake Superior Territory, and a member Wahwahbiginojii, of Mukwa Ndodem,language keepers, he says. The people ofof the Batchewana First Nation. Bolduc Bear Clan, is an Anishinaabe/Denethis land didnt have libraries, didnt haveis an accomplished director, producer, member of Goodminds.com (Goodminds),scribes. We had storytellers. We were anprogrammer, speaker, and a contributing a leading provider of Indigenous educa- oral society. editor and contributor to Indigenous Toronto, tion resources for schools and librariesStories That Carry This Place, an award-in North America and a strong promoterDespite the Indigenous roots in oral story- winning anthology that is the first of its kind of Indigenous authors, illustrators andtelling, there have been plenty of talentedfeaturing all-Indigenous led and written educators. He works with the GoodmindsIndigenous writers who have put their penhistoric and contemporary stories. The team vetting books, consulting with otherto paper over the years. The last decade inproject grew into a larger collaboration organizations, and writing policy.particular has seen the voices of Indigenouswith a new non-fiction Indigenous advisory A bestseller might not be a main goalfor an Indigenous writer. It might be language revitalization, or being able to share stories from their area, nation or cultureKateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Kegedonce Press68Spring/Summer 2022'