Ancestral Voices: Contemporary Indigenous Storytelling

Expand your understanding of Indigenous storytelling traditions and literature in this virtual author visit with award-winning Ojibway playwright, journalist, writer, filmmaker, and stand-up comedian, Drew Hayden Taylor.

This program is presented as part of the Ancestral Voices series. Learn more here https://www.rhpl.ca/ancestral-voices-belonging-and-identity-canada.

This program will be done virtually. Access instructions will be sent to those who register.

*This program is for adults (teens welcome). Priority will be given to confirmed RHPL members.

Program date: June 14 / 7-8 p.m.

Program location: Online

About our Speaker:

Drew Hayden Taylor is an Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario. He has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada’s premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts, to an award-winning playwright, journalist/columnist short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and documentary filmmaker.

Ancestral Voices Series

Discover our shared histories, our unique lived experiences, and the past, present, and future of own-voices storytelling in this conversation series hosted by Kim Wheatley and Maxine Gordon Palomino. Meet and learn from established and emerging artists and authors who represent diverse Indigenous, Caribbean, African and Black communities. Check our website for a schedule of speakers, information on how to register, and additional learning resources: https://www.rhpl.ca/ancestral-voices-belonging-and-identity-canada

Presented in collaboration with York, Durham and Peel Libraries.

Series hosts:

Maxine Gordon Palomino is an award-winning certified storyteller, lawyer (Ontario & Jamaica) and partner at Palomino Gordon Law Professional Corporation, and the co-developer and host of Ancestral Voices. She has over ten years of experience as a public speaker, and served on a community task force providing recommendations on the dismantling of anti-Black racism. Maxine is dedicated to championing own-voices storytelling, and to highlighting the interconnection of heritage and cultural stories to belonging and identity. Of Caribbean heritage, she has presented at international and national storytelling events, and to college students in the USA as part of their communication and diversity studies.

Kim Wheatley is an award winning public speaker, event organizer, writer, ceremonial practitioner and Traditional Anishinaabe Grandmother, and the co-developer and host of Ancestral Voices. She has over 30 years of experience providing Anishinaabe Consultation services locally, nationally and internationally, and has worked with most major universities in southern Ontario, many colleges, public and private schools, government organizations, special interest groups, environmental groups, corporations, institutions and spiritual groups. Kim’s intention is to serve those she collaborates with to provide authentic voiced supports, insights and truths.