Within each of us lies a story that reveals the uniqueness of our lives. Indigenous author Richard Van Camp knows the importance of enshrining such knowledge and is now preparing to share his storytelling gathering methods to ensure some of those stories become a cherished part of oneSA国际影视传媒檚 family history.

A master storyteller originally from Fort Smith, Van Camp said he was approached by the University of Victoria last year and asked if he would create an online course SA国际影视传媒渢hat celebrates the power of storytelling and the power of reclaiming family medicines.SA国际影视传媒�

Hence, the Recovering Family Medicine Through Story course will be offered by Van Camp this fall. He will also begin his term as the Indigenous storyteller-in-residence for 2024-25.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's really been my dream job the last couple of months to track down some of the greatest storytellers in my entire life, interview them again on video, and get the stories that have made my jaw drop, and be able to put them online for our students,SA国际影视传媒� Van Camp said of his preparatory work for the course.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd that's really what this course is about. It's about reclaiming whatever medicines you need for yourself and your family and your community.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd I'm talking anything from names, languages, songs, prayers, ceremonies, cooking techniques, baking techniques, harvesting techniques or anything from gardening techniques to looming and gardening and sewing and porcupine quill work,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the SA国际影视传媒渕edicineSA国际影视传媒� that makes oneSA国际影视传媒檚 life whole and inspiring.

Van Camp said the course will appeal especially to those who enjoy ancestry and documenting family gatherings and celebrations, or digitizing and uploading family videos.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you're the one that's haunting the archives and gathering photos and more information for other people, we are your people,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Van Camp considers himself fortunate because living in this era means he can preserve and incorporate the stories and history he has collected over his years as a writer into modern forms of technology, such as SoundCloud, Messenger, closed captioning, and YouTube, enabling him to share videos of past events containing people that have long since passed away.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has been just an absolute joy... here we get to see them dance again and smile again and laugh again and I think that's really powerful. It can be really soothing and mending and comforting for all of us really grieving our loved ones,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The Indigenous way

Dr. Stephen Ross, an English professor at the University of Victoria, said while the course is part of an effort to take action towards reconciliation, it is more so about SA国际影视传媒渁cknowledging the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing and communicating knowledge in an academic setting for a wider audience which has often marginalized or dismissed those ways of knowing.SA国际影视传媒�

Ross said academic institutions often rely on colonial models of knowledge production and dissemination.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving someone as vibrant, energetic and approachable as Richard serve as the inaugural storyteller-in-residence is huge for the university and really for all of us SA国际影视传媒� for anyone who wants to participate in the courses.SA国际影视传媒�

Ross said he has confidence in Van CampSA国际影视传媒檚 ability to SA国际影视传媒渂ring in a wide audience from across a host of different lifestyles, classes and social origins.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淩ichard is the one to do it. I personally am incredibly grateful for his generosity and all the collaborators we have been able to bring in to work together to make this a reality. We've also had just amazing support from across the university and at the highest levels.SA国际影视传媒�

Celebrating the stories

Van Camp said he looks forward to making SA国际影视传媒渆verybodySA国际影视传媒檚 trail a little bit easier down the road when approaching Elders and knowledge-keepers,SA国际影视传媒� as he hears and shares the SA国际影视传媒渕iracle storiesSA国际影视传媒� from participants across the globe.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd I think, you know, this course is really a celebration of what it means to be human together during these overwhelming times.

SA国际影视传媒淟ike, what better time to have stories that bring hope, because those who have hope have everything.SA国际影视传媒�