Young Aboriginal writers invited

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Aboriginal students in Northern Saskatchewan will get a chance to learn more about what it takes to be a successful writer, during a conference being organized by the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.

Writing the Territory Ahead: Young Aboriginal Writers' Conference will be held Oct. 26 to 28 at the SIFC Northern Campus in Prince Albert. The conference, being organized by the SIFC English department, was originally planned for last February, but was rescheduled for the fall.

Students aged 14 to 18 and their teachers are invited to attend the conference, with workshops aimed at both groups planned as part of the event.

Christine Watson is one of the conference organizers. She said the conference is being targeted at any student interested in writing, and wanting to learn more about Aboriginal literature.

"They don't have to ever have written a word," Watson said, adding that oral storytelling will be included in the conference alongside the written word.

Teachers have been included in the conference, Watson said, to give them the tools and information they need to incorporate creative writing or storytelling into their teaching curriculum.

By passing the information on to the teachers, Watson explained, the effects of the conference will continue to be passed on to students long after the kids attending have graduated and gone on with their lives.

Among the writers scheduled to take part in Writing the Territory Ahead are poet Gregory Scofield; screenwriter Jordan Wheeler; playwright and humorist Drew Hayden Taylor; poet and lecturer Randy Lundy; Nelson Bird, CTV broadcaster and host of Indigenous Circle; journalist Tyson Kaisowatum; and poet Marilyn Dumont.

Watson said one of the reasons such a variety of writers were invited to take part was to provide the students with a better idea of the different kinds of writing, and the different writing opportunities available to them.

The conference will begin Friday evening with registration and readings by some of the invited writers.

Saturday's schedule includes three workshops. During the first two workshops, workshop leaders will share their own experiences as writers, as well as information about opportunities available to young Aboriginal writers. Students will also work on their writing, and get feedback from others about their work. A third workshop will involve students in a group writing project. Teachers' workshops will run at the same time as the students' workshops.

Also planned for Saturday are an Elders panel on storytelling with local Dene and Cree Elders, and a feast and round dance.

The conference wraps up Sunday morning with presentation of stories created during the previous day's group writing workshop.

The decision to hold that conference at the Prince Albert campus, Watson explained, was made to provide northern students with access to successful Aboriginal writers. While writers often travel to the larger centres to do readings, that isn't the case with smaller communities in the North.

The SIFC English department is also hosting the conference to mark the college's 25th anniversary.

"For the English department, it's a great way to celebrate because considering, if you think about 25 years ago, there was virtually no Aboriginal writing at all. And if you look at the Saskatchewan Book Awards this year, there were tons of Aboriginal writers at the book awards, being nominated," Watson said.

For more information about the conference or to register, contact Christine Watson at 306-546-8491or by e-mail at cwatson@sifc.edu, or visit the conference Web site at www.sifc.edu/English.