Many people, mostly kids, who’ve taken my digital storytelling workshops have done their stories on their family pets. At my final workshop as a Culture Days Animateur, held at the Queen City Hub, Coby Stephenson wrote, voiced and produced this funny and touching digital story about her dog, Bea Arthur. Bea Arthur is a Labrador Retriever who has destroyed many of Coby’s belongings, but, as Coby puts it, “out of destruction comes the strength to let things go.”
This is the 44th episode in the premier season of SaskScapes! My guest, Olga Yarikov is originally from the Republic of Uzbekistan and now finds her home in Humboldt, SK. Olga shares memories of her childhood in Uzbekistan, her creative inspirations, and the effects of political unrest on her life’s path. Now that she has found a new sense of “home” in Humboldt, Olga finds herself open to expressing her creativity once again, drawing from the best of her past memories, and eagerly diving into new experiences. Through the eyes of a newcomer, we are reminded of what makes our Province and it’s people so special.
SaskScapes continues our celebration of Saskatchewan’s rich cultural diversity. We are fortunate to have folks originally from the Republic of Mauritius now living in our Province, and in this episode I talk with the members of the Sega Band based in Humboldt, SK. Join us as we learn a bit about the Mauritian culture, especially the music and dance. And wait until you hear these folks give us their impressions when they first saw snow! Thank you to Clifton, Wensley, Olivierre, Gilbert, Fredric, Eddy and Chloe.
Photograher Karue Wachira was born in Kenya and now, finds himself on the otherside of the globe in Lloydminster, SK. Though both environments are very different, Karue’s life and artistic philosophies remain the same: Taking photographs that tell stories as only pictures can, Karue moves through life capturing beauty. He cares deeply for the environment and doing his part so that future generations can inherit a sustainable planet.
Amanda Amundrud is the founding owner of The Root Community Emporium in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. The Root is not just a quirky old building, it’s a “happening” where people from all walks of life gather to share stories, knowledge, eat delicious locally sourced food, …basically “plug in” and connect with each other. On this Thanksgiving weekend I hang out with Amanda at The Root, and then attend the annual “Harvest Lantern Walk”.
Saskatoon’s “Rosebud Burlesque Club” has been setting fire to the wheat fields and steaming up the landscape! Headmistress Cheripop Purr has been the driving force behind the neo-burlesque movement in Saskatchewan. A few members of the troupe join us in what an eye-opening, brave, and very fun look into this art form. The neo-burlesque movement is putting the “tease” back in striptease – making a bold statement, sometimes political, and is a unifying force between people of all genders. A truly fun way to welcome in our 40th episode!
On a warm, sunny morning in July, about a dozen youth gathered in front of the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre to paint a mural. Over the next several weeks, youth from a variety of cultural backgrounds came together to transform a blank sheet of plywood on the side of a local building into a vibrant painting. While I was in Shaunavon this summer, I met up with some of the youth and organizers of this project, and produced this digital story.
A group of people in Weyburn is raising funds for a sculpture of a pioneer woman.
As part of this project, the Committee, made up of Jan Linnell, Mayvis Goranson and M. Isabelle Butters, is encouraging people to share stories of Saskatchewan pioneer women. Two schools in Weyburn invited me to help turn their students’ narratives into digital stories. Grade 5 students at Assiniboia Park Elementary School were given the assignment to write about a pioneer woman travelling through time to the present day or to imagine a person from the year 2014 traveling back in time to pioneer days. The students wrote scripts, collected photos and produced imaginative digital stories that included a lot of references to Wal-Mart, cell phones, girls wearing pants, electricity, melting snow for water and general stores.
Later in the week, I visited Souris School and worked with 11 grade 5 students. Each had been given the assignment to interview a woman at a seniors’ home. The students brainstormed questions as a class and took a day trip to one of the local seniors’ homes, where they met women “as young as 94 years old,” as one student put it. After finding out what life was like for some of the seniors, the students took photos, wrote scripts and produced digital stories.
On the day that I was at Souris School, a couple of women from the Pioneer Woman Sculpture Committee and interested seniors visited the school to see what the students were up to. The students explained their projects to the seniors, who were impressed with the students’ creativity, dedication to the project, and their technical skills.
For more information about the Pioneer Woman Sculpture Project, please contact:
Ross McMurtry: 306-848-0444 Stan Runne: 306-842-5864 or Leo Leydon: 306-842-2595
Janice took my digital storytelling workshop in Weyburn. She came to the workshop with several old photographs of her parents and ended up writing a beautiful story. Married in 1934, Janice’s parents were together for 62 years. They lived through the dirty thirties and the loss of a child, but despite this, the couple experienced many wonderful years together. Janice shares her parents’ love story.
Continuing from episode 37, we visit the log cabin tea house at the Frenchman Butte Heritage Centre. Ten local residents gather as we talk about growing up in the area, humorous anecdotes, giant fish, student curators continuing traditions, yummy home baked goodies, and more.