From pain to inspiration, and from inspiration to conversation — Renae Morriseau’s emotional and artistic journey travelled full circle this year.
Morriseau was the Vancouver Public Library’s (VPL) Aboriginal storyteller in residence from March to June, a role that saw the North Vancouver resident liaise with the public through her pursuits in the arts via film, TV, music and theatre.
As part of her tenure, Morriseau helped organize a First Nations theatre piece that focused on life and death in the Downtown Eastside. It was an exercise in addressing and purging demons for herself and the families of murdered and missing indigenous women.
“I broke down and kind of lost it one day in front of about 80 people during the performance,” said Morriseau, whose ancestral background is linked to the Cree and Saulteaux First Nations. “It affected me in an amazing, incredible and profound way for the better. I have a deeper understanding of truth and reconciliation.”
The library is now on the lookout for someone to follow in Morriseau’s footsteps, and an application deadline has been set for Oct. 14 to fill the role of next year’s storyteller in residence.
Some of the application parameters include experience in Aboriginal storytelling and performance, a zest for information sharing, availability to participate in public events and a full-time commitment for a period spanning from January to April 2017.
Established in 2008, the program has previously welcomed carvers, stand-up comics, playwrights, actors and writers into the fold. Those artists have come from First Nations backgrounds spanning the entire country.
“It has to be someone who is deeply committed to their craft,” said Anne O’Shea, the VPL’s manager of programming and learning. “They have to be interested in sharing and comfortable with speaking to a group of people who come from a diverse set of backgrounds because these events attract indigenous people, non-indigenous people, immigrants and visitors to the city.”
Though the residency is largely self-guided, some expectations need to be met. The incoming storyteller’s time will be divided in half, with 50 per cent devoted to working on personal storytelling projects. The remainder of the project will include planning and delivering public events across the city.
A stipend of $4,250 will be paid per month for the duration of the residency, and resources and dedicated office space will be provided at the Central Library location in downtown Vancouver.
“Each storyteller brings their own particular stamp to the residency,” O’Shea said. “We have a general assumption about some of the pieces they’ll produce, but they really help shape what the residency looks like.”
Morriseau had no shortage of experience to rely on while shaping the particulars of her residency. The 55-year-old is perhaps best known for her role on the CBC television show North of 60 and last year was awarded the City of Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for community engaged arts. Morriseau’s musical and theatre pursuits have taken her across the world and she now plays an active role in truth and reconciliation efforts across Canada and internationally.
Her advice to prospective applicants is simple: know yourself and be yourself.
“You have to figure out what your story is and what you need to share,” she said. “Figure out what is compelling you to create your personal work that the Vancouver Public Library can give you the space to do it in.”
For more details, go to vpl.ca.
jkurucz@vancourier.com
