Trails, Tales, and Spruce Tea

Welcome to shalan and Frank's first episode in our new series. Join us as we chat about the reasons we'd love to share some thoughts and conversations with listeners. Together we find the purpose and name for our show.

In this episode Tim Bernard from the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq joins shalan in the basket shop to share some of his personal stories and thoughts.

Shalan and Frank go cranberry picking, travelling first by kayak to find their favourite spot. Shalan reads her poem, "su'nl" and they talk harvesting.

In between regular podcast episodes, we bring you interlude storytelling. Today Frank tells us about his pet trout.

In this episode artist Cathy Martin shares an array of conversation, including her inspiration from basket-makers, the challenging recent history we should keep in mind, her background in theatre and how she became a filmmaker, and other stories.

In this inter-tale episode, Frank tells us the story of his luckiest shot as a young hunter. (No animals were harmed in the recording of this story. However, some tea was spilled.)

Just as the landscape of Kespukwitk prepares for the beginning of winter, hosts Frank and shalan welcomed eight friends over for a sharing circle to talk about hope.

In this inter-tale (in between regular episodes) Frank tells us the story of his first encounter with a bear.

With so few fluent Mi'kmaw speakers in rural Kespukwitk, it is a long road to reclaiming our Indigenous language. In this episode host shalan joudry speaks with neighbour Rose Meuse and her daughter Cedar.

In this Inter-tales episode, shalan shares a personally-crafted story. Although some details were also inspired by work with the Endangered Blanding's Turtles, this story is about reclaiming language to pass onto the next generation.