Bruce Sinclair: Adding some dramatic flair to storytelling at USask – News
Sinclair teaches acting to USask students in the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP), Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), and Indigenous Student Achievement Pathways (ISAP), acting, directing, writing plays and stories, and striving to fuse artistically practice with life.
As part of a 12-week residency, Sinclair will be the first Storyteller-in-Residence to personally hold the position on campus.
“We are pleased that Professor Sinclair is taking on this important role in the library,” said Dr. Melissa Just (EdD), Dean of the University Library. “The Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence is a unique opportunity for Indigenous artists to develop their practice in an environment that supports and encourages creative expression. It is also a significant opportunity for the library and the broader university to hear and learn from indigenous perspectives through storytelling.”
Sinclair follows poet and author Zoey Roy, who held the position last year, and hip-hop artist Lindsay (Eekwol) Knight, who was the inaugural Storyteller-in-Residence in 2021. Sinclair’s selection as Storyteller-in-Residence 2023 supports the The residency’s goal is to create and provide opportunities designed to promote cross-cultural understanding and storytelling among and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
“The fact that this is the third consecutive year of this residency speaks to the success of the program and how important we believe it is to create spaces on campus to engage with Indigenous perspectives,” said Just.
Sinclair is based out of his office in the Murray Library (Room 134) and holds consultations Tuesdays from 9:30am to 12:30pm and Wednesdays from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. As a student of the Nehiyawewin (Cree) and Michif languages, Sinclair is always eager to learn and invites everyone at the university to meet him and share stories with him.
Additionally, Sinclair will host weekly drama storytelling sessions at the John Mitchell Building (Room 282) during his residency. This workshop is interactive, allowing participants to develop their acting and storytelling skills, and welcomes everyone from experienced acting students to newcomers. These sessions incorporate movement, dance and storytelling, creating a safe environment for experimentation and expression.
“As important as stories are in our lives, making time for others to share and listen and learn, to embrace many cultures and stories, to teach our children… to bring the essence of history to our educational institutions and make it a reality,” Sinclair said of his role as storyteller-in-residence.
As the university prepares to celebrate Storyteller Month in February, Sinclair has proposed several initiatives during his stay, including Talking and Listening Circles, Winter Pipon Storytelling, Tipi Gatherings, and a variety of music, song, and dance guests. Additionally, in partnership with the Saskatoon Public Library, Sinclair will share stories and his skills at the Dr. Share Freda Ahenakew Library. The residency will culminate in a presentation of a project during the university’s Indigenous Achievement Week in March.
The Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence is made possible through the generous support of University Library donors and the programming efforts of the Saskatoon Public Library.
