February is Indigenous Storytelling Month, in which the Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples collaborates with libraries across the province for a variety of events.

Jessica Generoux, who is the Project Coordinator for Indigenous Storytelling Month, says that the month will bring events to communities in Saskatchewan, both big and small.

“We’ll be seeing about 86 storytelling sessions going on in over 100 locations across Saskatchewan. That includes the partnerships through the provincial library systems, like Lakeland, Wheatland, Palliser. Through those partnerships and sessions, about 85 of those locations will be in rural and under-served areas.”

Generoux adds that storytelling is a crucial step in the healing process for Indigenous people in the aftermath of colonization and residential schools.

“Oral history is very important to keeping the languages alive, the culture alive, and also within those teachings that are found in storytelling, it also increases the inter-generational healing that is needed from the past that we’ve all been a part of.”

The month long celebration began with a launch in Regina on February 2nd at the University of Regina Dr. John Archer Library of Archives.

“We’re going to be lead into the official launch with opening remarks from Lori Campbell, and we’re going to be hearing from renowned storytellers Dickie Yuzicappi and Randy Morin. Both are committed to the culture and language revitalization within Saskatchewan.”

About 65 per cent of expected participants in Indigenous Storytelling Month will be children, meaning the events aim provide lots of education to the young people involved.