Myrna Dey is a Canadian author residing in Kamsack, SK. Her novel “Extensions” was voted “people’s choice” for the 2011 Scotia Bank Giller Prize. Myrna talks about the experiences that have influenced her writing – from growing up in a “bookish” household, to living in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Guyana, and more.
Grade 7 student, Holly, tells about the adventure that she and her family took when they moved from Ireland to Moose Jaw, SK. This story was created in a digital storytelling workshop at King George School in Moose Jaw.
It’s tough to pull off humour, but Grade 6 student, Asia, succeeds with her digital story on her little brother, Torrey. This video was created in a digital storytelling workshop at King George School in Moose Jaw, SK.
Avery, a Grade 5 student at JH Moore, shares how she learned to play rugby and why it’s her favourite sport. This story was produced in a digital storytelling workshop that I facilitated with 17 grade 5 students in Lashburn, SK.
Preparing to make pinch pots!
Crowd gathering around the demo!
I spent July 1st with LMLCC (Last Mountain Lake Cultural Centre) at Regina Beach, for the Canada Day Celebrations. I helped them prepare for their upcoming “Pit Firing,” which will take place on July 12. In doing so, I invited people to come and make a pinch pot, which will then be fired in the pit firing. I also encouraged them to come participate in the LMLCC event and claim their pot.
The pit firing will begin around noon with the digging of ‘the hole’ at Regina Beach. Jay Kimball, LMLCC Artist in Residence, will facilitate this process. As he describes it, after the pit has been dug, he lays a bed of firewood in the pit, and covers that bed with the clay pots that have been made and bisqued in previous weeks. Other ‘elements’ are added (like iron, chrome, and copper) which create colour on the pottery, he says. Another layer of wood is added and then the fire is lit.
It takes about four hours for the fire to burn out. At that point, the clay pots are pulled from the ashes and laid in the sand to cool. Once that’s done people are then encouraged to find their piece and enjoy their creation.
Esterhazy resident, Ralph May, proudly shows off one of Saskatchewan’s treasures which has received a National heritage designation – The Esterhazy flour mill. In the second part of this podcast, I’m joined by two other local residents, Jim and Ray, who share stories of growing up on a farm during some of the most difficult years of the depression, and the joy to be found in living the simple life.
Florie Gray is Esterhazy’s second oldest citizen as of 2014 and she joins me in her first podcast recording ever. Florie takes me on trip down memory lane, discusses how the world has changed since she was young, sings her favourite song for me, and experiences her first “selfie”!
It was the second last day of school, so I was anticipating the work ethic might be weak. But, boy! was I ever surprised!
A small group of senior students of JH Moore Elementary worked tirelessly to get the planters in place before their summer break. A couple of the boys dug dirt for four hours straight!
In brief, we moved the tires into place, starting with the first layer, filled them with dirt, put the second and third layer on, lined them with tarp and then filled them with dirt.
How wonderful it was that when we finished an educational assistant and student came out of the school right away and planted rose bushes into three of the planters. Then the principal informed me that a grandmother from the community was coming the next day to plant flowers.
In May, I led several workshops on scriptwriting at Melville Comprehensive School with Communications Media and Photography students. They were already familiar with iMovie, so I worked with them on their storytelling skills. Hayley wanted to tell a story about her dad, who taught her how to play hockey. As a girl in a male-dominated sport, Hayley wanted to share the story of how her dad taught her to stand up for herself and how to become a better player. She produced this beautiful story.
Jim Harding, the mayor of Fort San, shares his early artistic inspirations, his passion for the environment, and the story behind the new Qu’appelle Valley Centre for the Arts which finds a home in the 1911 Old Central School in Fort Qu’appelle.