7th Generation adding voices to Indigenous Storytelling Month

Wintertime is a sacred time for Indigenous communities, where knowledge about people and lived experience are traditionally shared. The month-long celebration kicks off February 2nd at the University of Regina and then the event spreads far and wide with 117 in-person and online events in 73 locations across the province.

“I hope it moves people to want to take action”

Storyteller and sculptor Darwin Atcheynum cherishes school visits sharing the stories he was taught as a child. (Sherron Burns)

Traditional elders and knowledge keepers like Darwin Atcheynum, Harmony Johnson-Harder, and Dickie Yuzicapi are back for another year but, the list of storytellers has grown to include new voices like champion hoop dancer, children’s author, and performance artist Sandra Lamouche. She will be screening her film and immersive experience Just Breathe, Okâwîmâwaskiy (Just Breathe, Mother Earth).

Sandra Lamouche with her children’s books. (Lowell Yellowhorn)

“It’s about climate anxiety and mental health in relation to climate change from an Indigenous perspective,” says Lamouche. “It’s not straight forward facts. It reminds people of things they know about climate change and they pick up on it and continue to talk about it long after the film ends. I hope it moves people to want to take action and learn more.”

Lamouche will be doing a reading for kids from her children’s book pêyak little duck while she’s in town. It’s a book that blends English and Cree phrases. Lamouche says it’s an accessible way to introduce children to the language.

Kealy Cheyenne grew up knowing the power of story. Her father was a social worker and addictions counsellor who raised his family through stories.

“I wasn’t holding anything back”

Artist, author, and podcaster Kealy Cheyenne shares her personal journey through story. (Photo Provided)

“When he passed away and I took legal guardianship of my little brother. It was the stories that connected me to him and also let me express myself,” says Cheyenne. “It can be easy to worry about what others will think of our story but it’s something unique to us. I wasn’t holding anything back.”

“Sharing my story created a space to grow from the things that had happened”

Cheyenne is a rape survivor who used alcohol to numb her emotions. Now, clean and sober, she shares her personal journey through writing, music, poetry, and a podcast to help others.

“Sharing my story created a space to grow from the things that had happened and gave me the opportunity to reach out,” says Cheyenne. “It’s a really powerful shift because there’s a strength growing from the 7th Generation, as predicted by the elders. It’s creating strong leaders and stronger youth.”

“We’re seeing a huge surge of young, Indigenous storytellers that have so much to say and are seeking connection”

Cheyenne is part of a new wave of storytellers taking part in Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month 2026. The Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP) collaborates with libraries across the province to hold virtual and in-person events.

Jessica Generoux leads the team organizing Indigenous storytelling events right across the province. (Hugh Poorman)

“It’s exciting to watch the growth over the last 23 years,” says project coordinator Jessica Generoux. “When I was growing up stories and ceremony were done by elders and local historians. Now, alongside the traditional knowledge keepers, we’re seeing a huge surge of young, Indigenous storytellers that have so much to say and are seeking connection.”The month-long celebration kicks off Feb. 2nd at the University of Regina with an in-person and live-streamed event featuring Lori Campbell, Randy Morin, and Dickie Yuzicappi. The events then spread far and wide during the month of February with something for everyone as schools, local libraries, and cultural organizations gather to hear stories and share in the oral tradition.

Everyone is finding places they are good at, new ways of expressing self and the community

Cheyenna Sapp says part of her role as a storyteller is to guide the next generation. (Alyssa Bird)

Artists, poets, dancers and musicians will perform across the province. Professor Blair Stonechild will share about the 50-year history of First Nations University of Canada and its impact on the younger generations and the community as a whole. Actor, comedian, and playwright Cheyenna Sapp will connect traditional Indigenous storytelling to the modern day and share some laughs along the way.

“It’s all a part of the evolution of Indigenous storytelling,” says Sapp. “Everyone is finding places they are good at, new ways of expressing self and the community. There are so many ways that creators are taking up these spaces.”

“Storytelling empowers our people, heals our people and brings them together,” says Generoux. “Our goal is to create healthier communities by protecting and promoting these sacred stories. It’s revitalization, it’s reconciliation, and it’s our role to make sure that healing and growth through storytelling continues.”