ESTEVAN – The Estevan Public Library marked Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month with a special presentation by Indigenous artist Danii Kehler on Feb. 25, offering local students and the public a unique opportunity to engage with Indigenous culture through visual storytelling.
Kehler, a Plains Cree woman from Kawacatoose First Nation in Treaty 4 territory, shared her journey as an artist and environmental advocate, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in preserving Indigenous traditions.
“First and foremost, I’m an Indigenous artist, and I share my real-life experiences as an Indigenous person to showcase the true beauty and meaning behind Indigenous culture,” she said.
The event welcomed Grade 4 and 5 students from Hillcrest School and several members of the public, who were introduced to Kehler’s artwork and the cultural significance behind it. She described her artistic process as deeply spiritual and reflective of her heritage.
“I was taught that every bead has a spirit. And so, when you bead, you must have good thoughts, good deeds, good intentions. Otherwise, you're going to make mistakes,” she explained.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Kehler is an environmentalist and was the first First Nations person from Canada to join the 2041 ClimateForce Antarctic expedition in March 2022. She spoke about the significance of that journey, saying, “I became an ambassador for the Antarctic, and now I’m really passionate about Antarctica and I do a lot of work with them.”
Kehler also shared how her art serves as a medium for storytelling and healing.
“[My art] was my form of therapy. It helped with my mental health. It helped with a lot of things that I was facing, that I was going through, and it really helped me express that and to escape, basically, into a better place,” she said.
Indigenous Storytelling Month is an annual celebration across Saskatchewan that recognizes the importance of oral traditions in Indigenous cultures. Libraries and community organizations across the province hosted events throughout February to honour this tradition.
Kehler’s presentation at the Estevan Public Library highlighted the role storytelling plays in preserving history, culture and identity.
“I [knew I] had a duty to share these teachings, these stories, and our way of life to the next generations and the ones that come after me,” she said in her presentation.
