The best author visit I have ever experienced was Richard Wagamese at Mt Currie’s Xet’olacw Community School in October 2014. I’m so sad to hear of his passing, and for all the stories that remain untold. I’m grateful for the words he has shared.

And I’m grateful for this photo, from Georgina Dan, that seems to me to be a reminder to stand as tall as you can, be as proud as you can of your roots, of where you’re from, even when you ache, even when you feel naked and exposed.

“All that we are is story. From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey, we are involved in the creation of the story of our time here. It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story. All of us. What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can while we’re here; you, me, us, together. When we can do that and we take the time to share those stories with each other, we get bigger inside, we see each other, we recognize our kinship – we change the world, one story at a time…” Richard Wagamese

May his words continue to speak through the ages.