Narrative Strand: Presentation Titles

• Research Strand
• Northern Strand

Title: SpeyGrian: Sunshine on the Water

Inspired by experiences in the Yukon, SpeyGrian is an attempt to explore aspects of Scottsh cultural heritage using a cross-disciplinary approach in an outdoor setting. In this presentation poet, Gerry Cambridge and educator, Joyce Gilbert combine music, slides and poetry to tell the story of the unusual river journey which led to the formation of the
SpeyGrian Group in Scotland.

Authors: Joyce Gilbert & Gerry Cambridge, Scotland

Title: Creating a Sense of Place-Naturally

Volunteer parents pilot a school nature club to offer elementary school aged children connections to their community. Using the multi-dimensions of community artists, elders, foresters, biologists and geographers-and field excursions to local areas children participate in first hand, self-discoveries of the natural wonders of their home.

Author: Cate McEwen, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada

Title: Life as a Masquerade or a Woman's Story Revealed in One Final Act

Summary: The telling of Nicole's suicidal story is an inquiry in the personal / collective healing aspects of narrative research. Participants in this workshop are invited to (1) share their evoqued stories through dance and drama narratives; and (2) imagine different end-stories asking the question: "What if?

Author: Monique Giard
Actors/presenters: Brenda Firman, Monique Giard, Ruth Raziel, and Larson Rogers, University of British Columbia, Canada

Title: Children’s Stories About Common Animals: Narrating Ethics of Friendship, Freedom, and Fear

Children’s imaginative stories about their kinship with other animals contribute wonderful insights into emerging notions of child development and bioethics. The children’s stories play with concepts of friendship across species, and explore concerns about animal freedom and fear between species.

Author: Leesa Fawcett, York University, Canada

Title: They May Have Piped Up the Creek, But Not the Process: Exploring Intersections of Historical Ecology, Urban Ecology, and Community Organizing

This presentation tells the story of Taddle Creek, a buried creek in downtown Toronto, Canada. It is a story told through images and narrative, and one common to many creeks in cities. But the story isn’t over—Taddle Creek continues to inspire communities.

Author: Eduard Sousa, Master's Student, York University, Canada

Title: The Sacred Red Road of the Isanti Dakota (Sioux): Keeping the Story Alive

Samuel Mniyo learned traditional religious knowledge from his Dakota elders. Over 35 years he told me stories to write and give to the younger generation to learn who they are, where they come from. I share stories, questions and reflections.

Author: Dan Beveridge, University of Regina, Canada

Title: Oral Legacies: A Way to Enhance Environmental Literacy

This presentation focuses on the traditional ways of communication where written word is seldom used to inform environmental concerns of low-literate communities. Recommendations made to enhance environmental literacy in these communities by a study conducted in Pakistan will be shared

.Author: Sabiha Daudi, Ohio State University Extension, USA

Title: Schools and Community Merge: A Model for Working Together on Local Sustainability Projects

This presentation will tell the story of Learning for a Sustainable Future's evolving Community Institutes -- two-day community gatherings which bring teachers, high school students, business and community leaders together to discuss local sustainability issues and develop subsequent action plans to implement together.

Authors: M.J. Barrett, York University, Canada

Title: Narrative in Environmental Education

This presentation will review the methodology of storytelling from the perspective of Cree elder Raven Mackinaw's statement, "Settlers will never know how to live in balance on Turtle Island until they understand that wild er ness and storytelling are the same thing."

Author: Joe Sheridan, York University, Canada

Title: The Man who Planted Trees

It is the story of a man who spend most of his life planting trees in south of France and of a group of volunteers who planted 1.8 million trees in their region, the Laurentides.The exceptional qualities in a man's character reveal themselves only when one has the opportunity to study him over a period of many years. If he is utterly unselfish, shows unparalleled generosity, has never sought material gain and in addition has left the world a visibly changed place, then without doubt one has encountered a truly memorable character. Frédéric Back. OC. OQ.

Author: Loyola Leroux, Collège de Saint-Jérôme, Canada

Title: Snail Trails and Science Tales…Inventing Scientific Knowledge

Science knowledge is stories told by scientists. Theories are either compelling and accepted by other scientists and the public, or, if they lack elegance and believability and are put aside or discarded. Learn to tell science stories while learning science.

Authors: A. Michael Marzolla & Richard Ponzio, University of California, USA

Title: Stewards and Storytellers: Tales of School Ground Change and the People who Make it Happen

Evergreen will share the stories of students, parents and teachers who have transformed their school grounds into outdoor classrooms, natural habitats, and special, imaginative play spaces for children. Together participants will share their own memories of play and nature in school ground spaces, and explore strategies for making our contemporary school grounds into landscapes of learning.

Author: Denise Philippe, Evergreen, Canada