Memberships: Writer’s Union, Federation of BC Writers, CANSCAIP, CWILL, Connected North facilitator, ProWritingAid Ambassador/facilitator, Sefirot instructor
Some awards and nominations: 10 Best Books of 2010 Globe & Mail, 2x BC Book Prize finalist, 3x USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List, 2 x Skipping Stones Honor Book, 4x Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2x Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award nomination, Best Bets OLA, Golden Oak Award, First Nation Communities Read Selection in addition to 2x shortlisted, numerous readers choice awards AB, NS, ON, AK…
Christy Jordan-Fenton is the author of four award-winning and bestselling books about her Inuvialuk mother (in-law) Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton and her time attending a high Arctic Residential School in the 1940s. Christy’s poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies since she was 17. As a professional touring storyteller, Christy facilitates creative writing and storytelling workshops for over two hundred K-12 and adult audiences a year. She practices traditional ceremonies with the Kainai. Having been raised by a residential school survivor, she has been heavily involved in Truth and Reconciliation for nearly two decades.
Storytelling Sessions (with variations for busy learners and ELL students)
K-4 (45-60 min)interactive, multimedia storytelling around WHEN I WAS EIGHT and NOT MY GIRL. These sessions are trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and strengths-based, and are focussed on empathy building as well as taking inventory of personal resilience.
4-8, 9-12+ (60 min)interactive, multimedia storytelling that explores the life of Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, as told in FATTY LEGS and A STRANGER AT HOME. Personal photos, and additional stories compliment these trauma-informed, age-appropriate sessions which deepen the context of Olemaun’s experiences. Olemaun’s acts of bravery and resilience are highlighted in ways that deepen students’ understanding of their own strengths.
PD 1.5-6 hrs
Educators are introduced to the story of Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, her time attending a high Arctic residential school, and her brave journey sharing her story. Through a blend of modelling and deconstruction, educators are provided the tools for engaging as allies in Truth and Reconciliation and sharing stories in respectful, trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and strengths-based ways. Teachings are rooted in Christy’s experiences being raised by a residential school survivor, her close 20-year bond with Olemaun, 16 years working with K-12+, and her dedication to traditional ceremony.
Creative Workshops and Residencies (with variations for busy learners and ELL students)
Rev Up Your Creative Engines (45-90 min)
4+ Students learn to generate infinite story prompts and then turn those prompts into compelling loglines and blurbs.
Create Worlds that Inspire Stories (60-90 min)
3+ Students are introduced to the world-building elements used in FATTY LEGS and A STRANGER AT HOME, before learning to identify these elements in other popular/familiar stories, as they examine how to design worlds that inspire stories. Working with visual prompts, the students practice these techniques, before they are given an opportunity to create their own worlds with guided prompts.
Tea_2_TikTok (full day- 2 day)
3+ Youth/Elders Storykeeper/Storyteller workshop exploring the rights, responsibilities, and protocols around sharing stories intergenerationally, as youth and elders work collaboratively to create a written, oral, or visual story project. Especially ideal for Indigenous and new-comer youth and elders.
Other Writing Workshops and Residencies
Create Characters Who Make Stories Happen, Plotting the Journey, Create Beautiful Language, and Gamification for Imagination, Author as a Career. Modules can be combined for residencies. Custom residencies available.
In-person:
300 per 1 hr session, 400 per 1.5 hr session, 1000 for four 1 hr sessions, 1200 for five 1 hr sessions (can include aft/eve 1hr PD or parent event), 1200 per day for residencies, 1500 per day for PD
+GST + 60 travel surcharge per session or 240 per day within reasonable distance of a major city (inquire for remote locations)
Discounted group rates may be shared between schools.
Author is available during all breaks for questions, signing, and story club activities.
Virtual:
250 per 1 hr session, 800 for 4 sessions, 1000 for five sessions (can include 1 hr PD session)
+ GST
Follow-up questions via email will be answered, and teachers will be given temporary access to a recorded session, if requested.
Preferences
Size: Storytelling:5-500+ Creative Workshops: under 60
Venue: classroom, gymnasium, auditorium, learning commons, etc.
Tech: sessions include audio/visual components using an iPad. Author carries a projector, adaptors/dongles, and Apple TV, and all necessary sound equipment to include a headset mic. Author is experienced with using a variety of technologies, as well as integrating her own with existing systems, or setting up independent of school tech.
Contact Christy to book a visit: