Episode 50: Navigating ecological threats with storytelling

With Chenoa Egawa and Keith Egawa of North Atlantic Books

What is the role of storytelling in today’s fast-paced, digital-heavy world? Why is tone so important when exploring ecological threats with young people? How can stories by adapted for older and younger audiences? Siblings Chenoa Egawa and Keith Egawa wrote and illustrated the book The Whale Child, which combines Pacific Northwest Indigenous teachings with hope, humour, and clear-eyed honesty about various ecological challenges facing the planet. They joined us to share their insights about storytelling as an educational tool as well how traditional knowledge has informed their work.

Guests (from www.northatlanticbooks.com):

Chenoa Egawa is the owner of Swan Clan Productions. Egawa is a traditional Native singer, storyteller, ceremonial leader, and medicine carrier. She has served as a Lummi delegate and an interpreter in Central and South America and for the UN. She has also served as Indian Education liaison in public and tribal schools, promoting racial equity through art and education.

Keith Egawa is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Creative Writing program and author of the novel Madchild Running (Red Crane Books Inc. 1999). Egawa’s extensive work experience in the fields of Children and Family Services and Indian Education Reform has provided him with both inspiration and insight into his subject matter. Egawa has been awarded several artists grants, including the ARTs Up grant through the Seattle Arts Commission, which was used to conduct a series of writing workshops for Native youth in the Seattle area.