On January 15, 2019, OISE Library was fortunate to host Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, an Elder and Storyteller from Nacho N’yak Dun First Nation of Mayo, in Northeastern Yukon. Invited by CTL Instructor J’net AyAyQwaYakSheelth, she was able to come, share stories and even use our collection in her storytelling!
Together, with over 40 participants, Elder Profeit-LeBlanc lead the group through stories and shared knowledge from her community. Professor Jennifer Brant also brought her CTL 7073 class to attend the session. There was an opportunity to share responses to the stories and to reflect on the knowledge that was gifted to participants on that day.
In addition to this, she used some of the puppets from the OISE puppet collection to tell the story of Sister Mouse. This was an exciting and innovative use to activate the puppet collection.
Participants and OISE Library staff are so grateful that we were able to share some time with Elder Profeit-LeBlanc and for her to come to Toronto from her home in Quebec to share her knowledge and stories with us!
About Louise Profeit-LeBlanc
Louise is a member of the Nacho N’yak Dun First Nation of Mayo, in Northeastern Yukon. She is a mother, grandmother and a Story-Keeper.
She presently lives in Wakefield, Quebec with her husband Bob.
Louise comes from a long line of traditional storytellers and her repertoire consists of her own personal stories and more specifically ancient stories relative to her homeland, the Yukon. These stories depict how the land was made, how her people lived and survived for thousands of years. Many of these stories refer to how everything in nature, exists in balance but more importantly depict morals and teachings how we all can learn to live harmoniously with each other, while caring for the land, the water and all living things. She is grateful of the privilege of having been passed down these stories by her Elders and honoured to be able to share them with all generations and people of all backgrounds, for the last 40 years.
She has travelled extensively sharing these stories at many International venues Storytelling festivals, universities and colleges, where she also has provided storytelling workshops using examples of stories to inform the audience of the importance of oral tradition for the healing of the nations.
Louise is also a visual textile artist, poet and short story writer and continues to demonstrate the necessity of utilizing the power of art and story to heal, educate and provide opportunities for others to voice their need for justice.