Sharing Our Stories: Connecting Saskatchewan Métis and NL Indigenous Writers and Storytellers FULL

On the eve of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate how stories – from children’s literature to oral storytelling, to life writing, to poetry – can connect and strengthen I

On the eve of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate how stories – from children’s literature to oral storytelling, to life writing, to poetry – can connect and strengthen Indigenous communities. This event is hosted by the WISH research network: We’re Indigenous & Still Here: Amplifying Urban Indigenous Stories in Saskatoon and St. John’s whose goal is to amplify stories of urban Indigenous presence and peoples living in these two communities in collaboration with Indigenous partner organizations.Jordan Bennett: Souvenir and Meagan Musseau’s: A’tukwaqnm wit wtoqan (story about her skirt) exhibitions will be open for your viewing.This is a free event, but a ticket is required. Please reserve your free ticket online or by calling 709-757-8090. Author Bio’sRita BouvierRita Bouvier is a Métis poet, writer, editor, and retired educator with 37 years in K-12 and post-secondary public education. A lifelong learner, Rita has actively contributed to change in Indigenous education through teaching, writing and research, and through support for ongoing decolonization efforts with Métis and other communities/institutions. Her fourth poetry book, a beautiful rebellion, was released in April 2023. Her creative work appears in various anthologies and productions and has been translated into Spanish, German, French and Cree-Michif of her home community of Île-à-la-Crosse, SK. Rita volunteers with the Saskatchewan Ânskohk Writers Circle Inc., the Indigenous Editors Association, and the League of Canadian Poets.Wayne BroomfieldWayne Broomfield is an Indigenous Expedition Guide from Makkovik, Nunatsiavut which translates into "Our Beautiful Land" —in Northern Labrador. Grounded in Inuit culture and tradition, he brings a deep respect for nature, community, and connection to everything he does. A seasoned voyager, Wayne has travelled from the Arctic to the Antarctic, working as a hiking guide, bear guard, zodiac driver and culturalist while sharing authentic Inuit knowledge and perspectives. He is also a dedicated advocate for Indigenous representation in the tourism industry. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces as a medic, former mayor, and firefighter, Wayne's life reflects service and leadership. Above all, he is a proud father and grandfather, guided by purpose, culture, and a commitment to leaving a meaningful legacy.Wilfred BurtonWilfred Burton, a proud Michif, grew up in the Midnight Lake area of Saskatchewan. He was an elementary school teacher, university instructor, and literacy coordinator for over 30 years. He is currently retired and spends his time writing, reading, gardening, beading, rug hooking and doing lots of volunteer work in the community. He is a published author of several Métis specific picture books. His love of storytelling, fiddle music and dance was a gift from his mother, Georgina Nolin. A gift he loves to share with others through presentations and writing.Karon ShmonKaron Shmon was fortunate to mostly escape the time when the Métis hid their identity for cultural safety. A proud Métis woman from a young age, Karon has led a lifelong path as an educator on human rights, human justice, and human decency. Regardless of the job title, she has fiercely sought justice for those whose rights are being violated while also trying to set the record straight on the miss-story, which is subsiding but still abounds in most accounts of Métis and their history. Karon was the director of the Culture and Heritage Department and GDI Press at the Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon for several decades and is proud of the Institute's robust publishing program that boasts over three hundred titles to date. She is a volunteer board member of the Saskatchewan Ânskohk Writers Circle Inc. (SAWCI), the Indigenous Editors Association, and SaskBooks. In June 2025, Karon semi-retired from her role as director into a part-time position as the Institute’s cultural advisor. Dr. Shannon Webb-CampbellDr. Shannon Webb-Campbell is of Mi’kmaq and settler heritage. She is a member of Flat Bay First Nation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Her previous books include Re: Wild Her, Lunar Tides, I Am a Body of Land, and Still No Word, which received Egale Canada’s Out in Print Award. Prepare for her forthcoming poetry book Feral Mermaids (Book*hug 2027), a “deep-sea dive into a mysterious underworld of eroticism, rage and renewal.” Shannon holds a PhD from the University of New Brunswick in English-Creative Writing, as well as an MFA from the University of British Columbia in Creative Writing, and an MA in English Literature from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Lakehead University Orillia campus and the Associate Editor of Muskrat Magazine. She divides her time between Mi’kma’ki and southern Ontario.Dr. Elder Calvin WhiteMi’kmaw, born and raised in Flat Bay, Calvin White is one of the founders of the Aboriginal revival in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the early 1970s, he helped organize Aboriginal families in the province. A former chief of the Flat Bay band and president of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), Elder White was one of the original petitioners in the 1989 legal action, which resulted in the agreement to form the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. Among many other medals and honours, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Memorial University and was appointed to The Order of Canada for his pivotal role in achieving recognition for Newfoundland Mi’kmaq and his longstanding commitment to the rights of his people. In 2023, he published “One Man’s Journey: The Mi’kmaw Revival in Ktaqmkuk,” a memoir spanning over seventy years of his lifelong work for recognition and reclamation. With generous support from and in partnership with: , full_html