Achimo 2024: A celebration of Indigenous Storytelling

Ancient oral teachings mixed with contemporary history as STM College hosted its third Achimo Storytelling event recently.

The event was presented by Harry Lafond, STM Scholar in Indigenous Education and the College’s Authentic Indigenization Action Group.

Four unique presentations enthralled several dozen participants at Achimo 2024: A Celebration of Indigenous Storytelling on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at STM.

“I’m so grateful that Achimo has become a tradition at STM in recent years, and we owe that to Harry Lafond and the members of the Authentic Indigenization Action Group,” said Dr. Carl Still, President of STM College.

He thanked the presenters and storytellers for keeping alive precious cultural traditions and for sharing them.

 “It’s a privilege to have you with us, to learn from you, and to walk with you as we seek the path to reconciliation together.”

“Storytelling is an important part of just about every culture in the world,” he said, before introducing the four guest presenters and gifting them with tobacco, as is the custom when asking elders, storytellers and performers to share themselves with a group.

To kick off Achimo 2024, Harry introduced his daughter, Mika Lafond to an enthusiastic crowd in the Shannon Library.

“She’s always been a storyteller in our family. She was always writing little stories, and now does it as a career and as a teacher,” said Lafond.

Mika is a PhD student in Education Administration, a mother to two grown children, and a teacher of Gr. 9 students at St. Frances Cree School. She earned her MFA at USask in Creative Writing, and has published a collection of poetry in Cree and English.

One of her segments demonstrated just how important storytelling has been in her life, as she showed an illustrated book she had created when just a young girl.

Next up was Gordon Lobe, a retired teacher, principal, and superintendent. Gordon is also the  author of And They Told Us, Bridges Over Fences, and Making the Connection:  Cree First Nations  Kēhtē-ayak Thoughts on Education.

He explained to the audience he was more of a story collector than a storyteller, and had bought his most recent book, Bridges Over Fences, to read some of the stories he had collected within.

His focus was stories that showed how Mennonite people and First Nations people got along.

The audience then moved to the Chelsea Commons to hear from Joseph Naytowhow, a gifted singer/songwriter, storyteller, and actor from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band.

He started his presentation with a lullaby he had written and had shared recently in London, UK, at an event to show support to the people of Gaza. Joseph mixed humour with his stories, but also included prayer and Cree words for the audience to learn.

Storytelling and culture then really came to life in the Fr. O’Donnell Auditorium with the performance by the Cree Canaries Indigenous Youth Drum Group.

The colourful troupe showcases resilience by carrying on the cultural teachings, protocol, songs, storytelling, and dances. It was made up of Mario Fiddler, his children, and guest dancers.

“This drum took us all over North America,” said Mario Fiddler.

He explained that after the unmarked graves were found at the site of the former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., the group was invited to many memorial events. He said that sharing Indigenous culture was a path forward, and that part of their mission was to use their gifts to help in the healing and reconciliation process.

The Achimo 2024 celebration ended back in the Shannon Library, with the sharing of food, and each other's company -- and perhaps a few more stories between new friends.