There is a certain atmosphere around storytelling. A family member shares a story, and a hush falls over the room as the tale unfolds. Maybe the story’s resolution changes your perspective. Or maybe it makes you laugh. Either way, storytelling holds power, and the Indigenous Storytelling Series at Fort Edmonton Park curates a grown-up storytelling experience.
You might chuckle, laugh or sigh with amusement as you listen to these selected stories told by storytellers Anna Cousins (Muskego, Cold Lake, Alta.), Genevieve Olivier (Anishinaabe, Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Lex Wolfe (Ermineskin Cree Nation, Maskwacis, Alta.). These stories are not meant to be shared outside of the sharing circle, so at the start of each session, listeners will learn of the expectations for respectful treatment of each tale. The stories come from lived experiences or are passed down through generations; some are brazen, so the show is for adults only.
The series runs early in the year, with sessions on Saturdays until March 21. Take this time to step away from your responsibilities and enjoy a moment for yourself.
Cousins explains that in the summer, trickster spirits are active, and expect individuals to be productive. Winter is the best season to tell stories because trickster spirits are sleeping, so storytellers can talk about them without disturbing the peace. “Because if you call them in the summertime, they will come and they may cause chaos,” Cousins adds.
The sessions take place in the Clerk’s Quarters at Fort Edmonton Park, and start with tea and light snacks. Settle into the circle, and get ready to listen to stories from the Cree, Dene and Anishnaabe cultures. If you have never been to the Clerk’s Quarters or need a refresher, it is a cosy cabin with a large fireplace and floor-to-ceiling log panels, and it is wheelchair accessible. Tickets are $43 and, following the storytelling session, guests are encouraged to explore the Indigenous Peoples Experience. Proceeds Support Indigenous programming at Fort Edmonton Park.
It’s not every day that Indigenous Peoples Experience has storytelling, but those who come on Saturdays are encouraged to explore what else the experience has to offer. A piece of advice from Olivier: “Be open-minded, be ready to laugh.”
Fort Edmonton Park
River Valley Fort Edmonton | 7000 143 Street NW | 780.496.7381 | fortedmontonpark.ca
