Oral Storytelling with Story Vines: An Indigenous Perspective

Historically, Indigenous peoples have orally handed down Creation stories and teachings that are a part of their identity, history and world views. Our workshop presenter, Renée McGurry, has designed this story vine workshop to retell First Nations creation stories. Story vines are beautiful fabric chains, braided with art and artifacts that represent a story to be told. Art, created by the artist/storyteller is attached to the braid to serve as prompts or cues for the retelling of the story. Participants will have the opportunity to create a story vine to retell the creation or their own story. Story vines can also be integrated into other subject areas such as Science or Social Studies. (Suitable for all grades and subjects)

Renée McGurry is presently working as a workshop facilitator for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. In her 35 years as an educator, she has worked in classrooms ranging from grades 4-9, with the last eight years as the Indigenous Education Coordinator for the division. Through professional development, Renée has provided educators with the knowledge, support and resources needed to weave Indigenous perspectives into classrooms, schools and division-wide programming.  She has been recognized by Manitoba Education as one of their Aboriginal educators of the month and has been the recipient of the Trailblazer and Leadership award from the Aboriginal Circle of Educators.