SASKATOON – Acclaimed poet and community-based educator Zoey Roy has been selected as the next Indigenous storyteller-in-residence for an eight-week residency with the University Library at the University of Saskatchewan beginning in December.
“I’m very happy to be the Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence,” said Roy, who has Cree, Dene and Métis roots. “I look forward to expanding my knowledge about Indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge to facilitate learning opportunities through the USask Library.”
As part of her residency, Roy will lead a series of writing workshops, culminating in performances during Indigenous Achievement Week in February. To help bring these workshops to a wider audience, the University Library is partnering with Saskatoon Public Library.
Roy is currently pursuing a PhD at York University in Toronto and has been working with the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program in Saskatchewan since 2016. She has a strong interest in Indigenous equity and entrepreneurship.
Roy has received a number of awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the National Aboriginal Achievement Award from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and a Woman of Distinction Award in Saskatoon.
“Zoey Roy brings a wealth of knowledge to the residency program that will go a long way to breaking down barriers and enhancing conversations about decolonization,” said Dr. Melissa Just, dean of the University Library, adding that she believes Roy’s experiences as a poet, emcee and author will enhance the program opportunities for participants.
Following last year’s successful inaugural residency with hip-hop artist Lindsay (Eekwol) Knight, Roy’s selection as the 2021-22 storyteller-in-residence supports the residency’s aim of creating and delivering opportunities designed to promote intercultural understanding and story-sharing between and among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous storyteller-in-residence is made possible through the support of University Library donors, and the programming efforts of the Saskatoon Public Library.
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