February Storytelling Event Recap
In February, we held our first storytelling event—a gathering of four voices, each representing a different region, uniting to share our stories and deepen our understanding of ourselves. These stories, woven together yet uniquely distinct, spanned many truths: reflections on land acknowledgements and our sacred ties to the land, journeys of reconnecting with culture through family, the complexities of multiple origins and identities, and the experiences of cultural diaspora. Through music, food, vending, and storytelling, the night was alive with richness and connection.
Tuwuxuwult-hw
Tuwuxuwult-hw// Tyrone Elliott is a Cedar Weaver, multi-media artist, a seasoned facilitator, mentor, and... Story-teller? That one’s new, sort of.Everything tells a story; we are all story-tellers. It is the designation that is new, and Tuwuxuwult-hw intends to deconstruct it. Story-telling requires context, a setting, and Tyrone intends to offer one through a deconstruction of generic terms - the terms misheard, misused and/ or misunderstood in every land acknowledgment, first year Indigenous Studies classroom, and in every speech given by an Indigenous person who’s put the money before the horse (or however the saying goes). Mixing in their lived experience, Tyrone will tell a story of settler inconsistencies and their impacts.
Trenton Schulz-Franco
Trenton is of Indo-Germanic descent. The grandson of Jaya Mary Reddy & Dorothy McNee, Trenton is a non-practicing lawyer, ecologist, photographer, canoe guide and cricketer. Above all, a passionate advocate for building inclusive connections between ourselves, the land and one another. Originally from the traditional and ancestral territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ communities and the Lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples on what is now known as Vancouver Island, Trenton is the founder of the Special Bird Service Society (SBS).
Another speaker- a mixed Sahtu-Dene artist, shared about her connection to my maternal grandmother. We send her such a big thank you for being so vulnerable and open with her story, and doing so in a way that left us all impacted.
Alia Izoli
Alia Izoli is an uninvited refugee on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, born in syria, of Kurdish ancestry.
“Growing up in Damascus during the war, moving to Beirut, and eventually settling in so-called Canada have shaped who I am today.
Through every journey, my culture has remained my anchor, and I can’t wait to share a taste of it with you".
How to Get Involved:
Welcome to Nova Arts Hub Storytelling Night! Share your stories of your great-grandmother, share stories of your awkward first kiss, share stories of your existence on these lands, or just wing it- all is welcome! Whether you're an experienced storyteller or trying it out for the first time, this night is about celebrating the power of voice and shared experiences.
Come as an audience member to support your fellow community members and listen to some stories. The role of the listener is equally important!
How It Works:
- Participants (audience or storytellers) get their tickets online before the event
- First bit of the event is reserved to mingling
- The event will start with a welcome from Lajah (Nova Arts Hub Founder), followed by each of the pre-scheduled storytellers. Each storyteller will be reached out prior to the event and assigned an order. Each participant will have around 10 minutes to share their story.
What to Expect:
- Warm Welcome
- Featured Storytellers: Be invited to listen to four featured storytellers share their lives with us.
- Community Connection: Unstructured mingling, connecting and reflecting.
- Open Mic: The floor opens up for the audience to respond to the stories shared and share any lessons they will be taking with them. As an audience member, please be mindful of the space you’re holding and aware of leaving space for others.