Digital Storytellers

Digital Storytellers

 On July 12th, 2010 award-winning writer, director, filmmaker, and Arctic educator, John Houston (www.drumsong.net ), and Arctic biologist and educator, Ree Brennin, came to the McLaughlin Library to talk about their work and to screen Kiviuq (2007), a film which depicts the tale of Kiviuq, an Inuit prophet and shaman who according to legend, was born when the earth began.

Organized as a part of the Changing Climate, Changing Health, Changing Stories project, co-directed by PhD students Ashlee Cunsolo Willox and Sherilee Harper, the event included talks by the My Word Team from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut (Tanya, Dinah and Ashley). The My Word Team is exploring the potentials and limitations of using digital media to document, promote, and preserve indigenous knowledge and oral histories.

John provocatively introduced the event by asking us why it was necessary to preserve the traditional knowledge of the Inuit? What, he asked, has gone wrong with the ways that preserved this knowledge for generations?

It was an extraordinary afternoon filled with insight, challenge, laughter and tears. Giving voice to these stories and to these amazing individuals is what makes libraries a powerful presence in our society.

...Mike