CBC Montreal Special Event: Turtle Island Reads

On Sept.21,CBC Montreal, McGill University and the Quebec Writers' Federation invite you to a special event highlighting stories written by and about Indigenous Canadians.

Turtle Island Reads is a live public event taking place at theKahnawake Survival School in Kahnawake.

Doors open at 6 p.m.
Broadcast event starts at 7 p.m. sharp.

The event, to be streamed on cbc.ca/montreal and viaFacebook Live, is a collaboration with community leaders in Kahnawake, CBC Montreal, the Quebec Writers' Federation and McGill University's Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas.

Hosted by CBC's Sonali Karnick and Waubgeshig Rice, Turtle Island Reads takes its inspiration from CBC's Canada Reads, sharing theprogram's goals of discussing and celebrating books.

• Turtle Island Reads: Meet the advocates

For Rice, anOttawa-based author and journalist originally from Wasauksing First Nation, near Parry Sound, Ont.,the event is chance to share important themes and stories.

"Highlighting Indigenous experiences in literature is whatItryto do as a storyteller, and I am delighted to showcase the great authors also doing this," Rice said.

During the event, three advocates will discuss bookswritten by Indigenous Canadian authors.

GageKarahkwi:ioDiabo

Gage Karahkwi:ioDiabo, amusician, actor, local Kahnawake radio co-hostand MA student in First Peoples' literatures at Concordia Universitywilldiscuss The Back of the Turtle by Thomas King (HarperCollins).

• Funny, magical, unsettling: Gage Diabo on why he's championing Thomas King's Back of the Turtle

ElmaMoses

Elma Moses, a storyteller and professor of First Peoples Studies atConcordia University, will champion Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont (Thistledown Press).

• Marriage, bingo addicts, learning to drive a truck: Elma Moses champions Dawn Dumont's Nobody Cries at Bingo

Heather White

Heather White, a highschool teacher in Kahnawakewho plays Caitlinin the APTN show Mohawk Girls will discuss Indian Horse by RichardWagamese (Douglas & McIntyre).

• Richard Wagamese's novel about residential school trauma a life-altering read, says Heather White

In addition to the Turtle Island Reads event, our partners are hosting a number of activities.

McGill University's Indigenous Awareness Week (September 19-23) includes film screenings, panel discussions and creative arts workshops.

Quebec Writers' Federation will be presenting an Eeyou/Cree storytelling workshop led by Elma Moses on Saturday, Oct.1 and a 10-week Writers in the Community project for students at the Kahnawake Survival School.

Please visit the Turtle Island Reads FacebookEventfor updates.