CBC Montreal Special Event: Turtle Island Reads
Join us for a live public event celebrating Indigenous stories and authors
On Sept. 21, CBC Montreal, McGill University and the Quebec Writers' Federation invite you to a special event highlighting stories written by and about Indigenous Canadians.
Turtle Island Reads is a live public event taking place at the Kahnawake Survival School in Kahnawake.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Broadcast event starts at 7 p.m. sharp.
The event, to be streamed on cbc.ca/montreal and via Facebook Live, is a collaboration with community leaders in Kahnawake, CBC Montreal, the Quebec Writers' Federation and McGill University's Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas.
Hosted by CBC's Sonali Karnick and Waubgeshig Rice, Turtle Island Reads takes its inspiration from CBC's Canada Reads, sharing the program's goals of discussing and celebrating books.
For Rice, an Ottawa-based author and journalist originally from Wasauksing First Nation, near Parry Sound, Ont., the event is chance to share important themes and stories.
"Highlighting Indigenous experiences in literature is what I try to do as a storyteller, and I am delighted to showcase the great authors also doing this," Rice said.
During the event, three advocates will discuss books written by Indigenous Canadian authors.
Gage Karahkwi:io Diabo
Gage Karahkwi:io Diabo, a musician, actor, local Kahnawake radio co-host and MA student in First Peoples' literatures at Concordia University will discuss The Back of the Turtle by Thomas King (HarperCollins).
Elma Moses
Elma Moses, a storyteller and professor of First Peoples Studies at Concordia University, will champion Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont (Thistledown Press).
Heather White
Heather White, a high school teacher in Kahnawake who plays Caitlin in the APTN show Mohawk Girls will discuss Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (Douglas & McIntyre).
In addition to the Turtle Island Reads event, our partners are hosting a number of activities.
McGill University's Indigenous Awareness Week (September 19-23) includes film screenings, panel discussions and creative arts workshops.
Quebec Writers' Federation will be presenting an Eeyou/Cree storytelling workshop led by Elma Moses on Saturday, Oct. 1 and a 10-week Writers in the Community project for students at the Kahnawake Survival School.
Please visit the Turtle Island Reads Facebook Event for updates.