Crystal Favel (aka award-winning Aboriginal mix master Crystal DJ Kwe Favel) laments the lack of First Nations storytellers today.
鈥淭here just aren鈥檛 that many of them left,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to find someone to carry on the storytelling tradition in a modern world.鈥�
Originally from Portage La Prairie, Favel鈥檚 ancestry is a mix of Metis and Cree Nation. She aims to drag the art into the modern age through a digital and audio storytelling performance at the Squamish Adventure Centre on Saturday (June 27) from 1 to 2 p.m.
鈥淭he stories I tell come from my dreams and my own personal experiences,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, these are not particular traditional stories, but rather stories told by a traditional person.鈥�
But, she stresses the stories 鈥� which touch on subjects like residential schools, suicide and cross-generational violence 鈥� are also woven with local references and traditional lore, as since moving to the area Favel has tried to learn from the Mamquam Nation.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to keep traditional elements to the stories,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to cross lines. But I also want to bring modern elements to the art of storytelling鈥� and I hope the Elders will like it. I鈥檝e felt very welcome since coming here. There鈥檚 a lot of positivity on this side of the Stawamus Chief.鈥�
Favel pre-records the audio portion of the stories beforehand.
鈥淚 then take the mixes and feed it through channels, and mix the stories live with music and sound effects,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that has never been done before. And there are no visuals. I want to challenge the audience to use their imagination and listen to the words鈥� What will they take away?鈥�
Favel鈥檚 work has earned her the 2015 and 2014 Aboriginal Arts Development Award from the First Peoples鈥� Cultural Council for Digital Audio Storytelling, and the 2015 Red Sky Performance Scholarship, as well as awards from the Ehattesaht First Nation Language Revitalization Project.
She said she鈥檚 also the first aboriginal DJ to turn professional DJ and producer for electronica music in Canada.
鈥淚 know I鈥檓 also breaking a few barriers being female,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd in the end, my ultimate goal is to go on tour with the stories, but also to do a radio show and more work as a DJ and in sound design.鈥�
Saturday鈥檚 performance will also feature a 鈥渉ealing arts鈥� merchandise table with items handmade by Favel.
鈥淚 think anyone looking for inspiration will find something at the performance,鈥� she said.
Admission is by donation (pay what you can) and there is an open-door policy for at-risk youth. The centre鈥檚 theatre only has a 30-seat capacity, so RSVP at 778-985-8155. For more on Favel, go to http://urbanindianproductions.com/.
