Young aboriginal writers have the opportunity to hone their craft and work with authors to better be able to tell their stories. Words Our Way was a workshop hosted by the Saskwatchewan Writers’ Guild for Indigenous youth aged 15-21.
Carol Daniels, facilitator of the workshop and author, says that their goal is to make youth realize the moments in their lives are “magical,” and something which are valuable and should be shared.
One of the goals of the workshop is to find different ways to get the students to express themselves, whether it’s connecting to memories through things like food or doing dramatic writing to create characters, Daniels explains.
“I think it’s way easier to be frank and open if you’re not talking about yourself.”
Students will also learn how to be better at public speaking, as the workshop ends with them presenting their writing. Daniels says that getting comfortable with public speaking is something that will be helpful for students for the rest of their lives.
“It’s also a good lesson in life, sometimes things are difficult but you have to just keep on going.”
She says that over the course of a weekend, students become more comfortable with themselves, find ways to be comfortable speaking to others, and better able to be open and able to express themselves.
“These youth will come in during the beginning, they’re just shy and they don’t think what they have to say is important, and just with a little encouragement they’re like a prairie lily... they blossom, and these young writers are like that.”
Those youth will also have the opportunity to have their work published as part of an anthology, which will compile their work and share it with others. But the real legacy is not the written words, Daniels says, but in the impact it has on the students overall.
“What I’m hoping we’ll leave behind after these weekends is that some of these young people will go on to study literature, get a degree in English, maybe even in education... Sometimes you need permission to be told it’s okay to be you.”
Hosting the workshop in Yorkton is something that Daniels says is something she wants to see, as smaller centers also have budding young writers with stories to tell.
“I think it’s important to get away from Regina and Saskatoon, and get into places like Yorkton and Weyburn and Estevan. It’s exciting for me.”
The workshop will occur again this weekend, September 26 and 27, at the cafeteria at YRHS. Daniels says that students should not be intimidated if they were unable to attend the first weekend of the workshop, but that they can join and benefit for as much time as they are able to commit.
“Whatever we’re doing, it’s going to be amazing both weekends, both days.”
