Storytelling

Once Upon A Time

Storytelling is a vital form of communication. It is a way of teaching, building relationships, and learning for all ages. Each and every culture has a different story to tell, and sharing stories has been part of our lives around the world for millennia.

Oral storytelling is one of the earliest forms of human communication. Although it is the most widespread, stories can also be shared in drawings, writing, and actions.

In classrooms across Canada, students used slates to copy down lessons, write equations, and share messages. Since they were endlessly reused, slates like this one were framed to make them more durable in small hands.

 This slate is marked with “I love you Mom and Dad it is me love Mam and Kyle,” in a child’s handwriting.

Writing Slate PMA, 995.43.1

Finding Your Voice

Oral storytelling is an important way to share traditions in many Indigenous communities. It requires the storyteller and the audience to be present in a space for a story to be told. You might gain a new understanding or learn a lesson from the story, and the storyteller might adjust the story based on the audience’s reactions. Oral stories are alive and ever-changing.

Elsie Knott became Chief of Curve Lake First Nation in 1954, making her the first Anishinaabe Kwe O’gimaa (Native Woman Chief) in Canada. As Chief, she shared stories with members of her community and actively worked to preserve the Ojibwe language.

PMA, 2000-012-018280-22