The Aunties

The Aunties is an invitation to come together to honor the women that shape, heal, and uphold Indigenous communities—the aunties—through an evening of contemporary storytelling, shared stories live from the stage alongside familial and archival photographs, and works of legacy. This world premiere commissioned by The O’Shaughnessy will feature stories by aunties from our local region, Justice Anne K. McKeig (Indigenous Name: Awaniikwe, meaning “Mist Woman,” White Earth Nation), Lyz Jaakola (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), and Sandy White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota).

Storytelling from the live performance will be preserved on film to become the heart of a narrative-driven documentary series featuring stories by local aunties across Turtle Island (North America). The documentary series is intended to create a cultural resource for future generations through films that capture the artistic, cultural, and visual integrity of the places and people from which auntie stories emerge.

The Aunties live performance and film series creates a dedicated space for Indigenous storytelling tradition. Indigenous storytelling spans purpose, complexity and tradition. In St. Paul, storytelling is honored as a living art form that continuously shapes identity, facilitates healing, and builds solidarity across and within communities.

We gather to honor the contributions and enduring legacy of our aunties, whose stories inspire new narratives and guide new generations of leaders. In Mni Sóta Makoce, The Land Where the Water Reflects the Skies, we come together in community to reflect on our collective history to nurture hope for a brighter future.