Stephanie Sinclair had a vision: a radiant collection of letters from outstanding Indigenous voices across Turtle Island, to be shared widely and generously. Her vision has been manifested in two books: A Steady Brightness of Being and the youth anthology You Were Made for This World. This energizing talk show (with its mashup title) is our celebration of these ageless gifts, which align serendipitously with our festival theme: “Bright Ideas in Dark Times.” Wordfest fave David A. Robertson is featured in both titles, and joins Sinclair as co-host. They’ll be setting the stage at DJD for Turtle Island’s most compelling Indigenous Voices: Billy-Ray Belcourt, Cherie Dimaline, Jon Hickey, and katherena vermette.
Paying it forward: as part of Wordfest’s 30th Anniversary celebration—and thanks to our generous donors and foundation partners—more than 1,000 Calgary teens attending Wordfest Youth during the Imaginairium will receive copies of one of these books in addition to experiencing life-affirming events with Dimaline and Robertson.
This event is organized in collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts to celebrate the finalists and winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards.
Talk Show Format
Audience Q&A
Pop-Up Bookstore
Book Signing
Complimentary Parking
75 minutes. No intermission.
Talk Show Format
Audience Q&A
Pop-Up Bookstore
Book Signing
Complimentary Parking
75 minutes. No intermission.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
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