Alaskan storytellers will take the stage on Wednesday evening at The Crystal Saloon to share what diaspora and belonging are to them. The event, which is titled “Displaced,” will feature authors of ethnicity who hail from Juneau as well as Anchorage.
The idea was conceived by Juneau artist Daniel Firmin about 10 years ago during an art class. As his colleague wrote about water displacement and the effects of climate change, he thought immediately of his own experiences growing up within the two cities of Fairbanks as well as Fort Yukon, having a white father and an Alaska Native mother.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I’m not certain what the rest of the world will do,” he said. “What I’d like to do is be open about the feeling of not being accepted by two worlds which really exist in the same .”
Firmin stated that he has did not feel like the community he was in, that he was never white or Native enough to belong to either. After the Unceded event this spring, which included musicians of color, Firmin proposed to organizer Tripp Crouse with the idea organizing a storytelling event.
For Crouse the idea hit the same chords at home. They’re Ojibwe and were raised living in Illinois along with the Native American ancestors of their families. Today, they’re living in Alaska together with a group of acquaintances who share personal experiences of diaspora.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”A A friend who is a friend of mine names Juneau”the Island of Misfit Toys.” Crouse said.
Crouse states that this combination of belonging and identity fosters the vibrant arts scene in Juneau.
“It’s an area that we can all meet up and get together and make fun things happen and throw awesome occasions,” they said.
Crouse stated that there is no fee as they want everyone to be able to attend without financial barriers. All donations go towards the performers.
They’ve not reviewed any of the poems or stories that they will read neither, and there’s one rule: it must be unique.
“I truly want to reflect the perspective of who you are” they said.
Other storytellers feature Ernestine Shaankalaxt Hayes and Na Mee. Displaced will take place on Wednesdays on Wednesday at Crystal Saloon at 8 p.m.
Editor’s notice: Tripp Crouse is a former KTOO employee.
