Winnipeg Poetry Slam Hosts Event for Truth and Reconciliation

Co-host Janelle Lagasse highlighted the role of poetry in addressing difficult subjects related to reconciliation. She remarked, "I think poetry is a really good source for people to be vulnerable using language that they might not use in their everyday when they’re talking about big, heavy subjects that they need to express themselves about."

Lagasse, a spoken word artist and frequent collaborator with the Winnipeg Poetry Slam, is particularly excited about Manache's involvement. She noted, "I’m a part of her Indigenous studies program, so every week, she’ll teach us new ins and outs of ceremony or a teaching."

Elder Manache will present either a specific ceremony or teaching during the event and will offer a smudge to attendees who wish to participate. Lagasse mentioned, "Our elders get to do what they want to some extent."

Lagasse emphasized the significance of having an elder to support Indigenous poets, allowing them to share their experiences safely. She explained that poetry serves as a powerful medium for conveying feelings surrounding generational trauma, such as that caused by residential schools. "Poetry is a vehicle that allows that more than any other art form, in my experience," she stated. "We can use metaphor, we can use simile, we can use anything we want to."

For Lagasse, the process of writing and reading poetry has therapeutic benefits, saying, "You don’t have to get it, but even just writing it and reading it is incredibly healing."

The Treaty People open mic night aims to create a space for sharing and storytelling, welcoming anyone interested in participating in the reconciliation journey. Lagasse remarked, "Indigenous people are so open to sharing stories with anybody who’s willing to listen. When I’m writing a poem from an Indigenous point of view, that doesn’t mean that it’s only for an Indigenous reader; it’s a universal experience."

The event will start at 7 p.m. on September 29 at the Handsome Daughter on Sherbrooke Street. Aspiring poets are encouraged to arrive an hour prior to sign up. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. More details can be found on the Winnipeg Poetry Slam’s website.