The Dawnland StoryFest is a warm spot in cold and snowy February and – New Hampshire’s only annual Native American Storytelling Festival. This is the 5th year anniversary for the festival and its first year at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH. Please join us if you love to listen to traditional Native American stories – and if you’d like to learn more about telling traditional Native American storytelling.

The Dawnland StoryFest was originally created almost five years ago, by New Hampshire storyteller Papa Joe Gaudet, as a showcase for Francis “Medicine Story” Talbot, a New Hampshire storyteller who for many years shared traditional Native American lesson stories with his audiences. This year, the Dawnland StoryFest moves to its new home at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH and will be dedicated in memory of two accomplished New Hampshire tellers of Native American lesson stories, who both passed away in 2018 – the well-known storyteller, Francis “Medicine Story” Talbot and accomplished storyteller, Peter “Bearded Turtle” Brodeur.

Come hear experienced Native American storytellers share traditional tales during the heart of the Winter Storytelling Season. For the first time, this year’s featured teller is a woman! Anne Jennison is an award winning storyteller of European and Abenaki descent who has been telling traditional Native American lesson stories for 30 years. Also featured are the very accomplished storytellers: Crow HearsCrow, Darlene Kascak, Angela Klingler, Sebastian Lockwood, Papa Joe Gaudet, and Simon Brooks as the MC. In addition to hearing stories, there will also be a discussion that touches on ideas about what Native American stories are appropriate to tell, as well as when, where,why, and how to tell them. There may also be an opportunity for you to share a traditional Native American lesson story, if you have one prepared to share.

The Festival takes place each year on the first Saturday in February, during the heart of the winter storytelling season. In this, its 5th year the Dawnland Storyfest 2018 is changing homes. Formerly held at the Mariposa Museum & Cultural Center in Peterborough, NH, starting this year, the Dawnland Storyfest will now be held at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH. The very modest admission fee for this event is $5.50. Free admission for Native Americans.

Please note: The Dawnland StoryFest 2018 is geared toward adults, including young adults, who are interested in Native American Storytelling traditions. This event is not really suitable for young children as there will be no specifically child-oriented activities – or childcare – provided during this one-day storytelling conference and festival.

Contact Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum for more info. indianmuseum.org