Storyteller Richard Wagamese inspires colleagues at Canwrite 2010 in Victoria

Photo by Sheila Martindale

Canwrite 2010, the annual conference of the Canadian Author's Association, is in full swing. After an amazing two days, by mid- afternoon, I was poleaxed.

Far too exhausted to go to the gym or the pool, or even outside for fresh air, I fell on my comfy hotel bed and slept. Woke refreshed, ready to hear the words of this year's Literary Awards winners.

Richard Wagamese, writer, story teller and former CAA Award winner, opened the event, inspiring fellow writers with his own story, as well as his sense of the storyteller as a magician who conjures up something from nothing.

He talked of writing as a spiritual calling, and described how he always begins the writing process by closing his eyes and breathing deep to get in touch with the place where his intention, trust and faith allow story to flow through.

Humans are tribal, he told us. We long to sit around the fire, lean close and hear one voice speaking, allow that single voice to fill us.

Richard Wagamese also shared his humour. He told us how he changed his acronym for FAITH from "Find another Indian to help," to "Find an insight that heals." Follow your calling. Have the intention, the faith and then let the conjuring happen once again.

"You're experienced enough," he told a rapt audience of writers. "You can do that too."

Rhonda Lee Stephenson-Read, the event emcee and Awards Chair of the CAA, voiced the thoughts of many when she responded spontaneously to the words of this inspired storyteller: "I can't wait to get home and start writing."

I felt the same. On Suite 101, I published an article about oral storyteller Richard Wagamese and his novel Keeper'n Me.