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Delve into the work and ideas of internationally celebrated authors and cultural thinkers.

Renew your New Year’s reading goals and join us for our next iteration of The Elements of Story, this time curated by the legendary Indigenous singer-songwriter, musician, Oscar-winning composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie!

Buffy Sainte-Marie has selected three books around which the event will be framed. Once registered you will receive the book list to read over the course of the coming weeks in preparation for the deep-dive conversation or to let Sainte-Marie’s words inspire your reading and add context to the books for you to enjoy in the future. The not-to-be-missed moderated discussion will touch upon the ways in which the chosen works have impacted Sainte-Marie personally, how they collectively articulate the present moment, and on the importance of storytelling in the search for meaning in difficult times.

With your ticket you will receive:

• the exclusive curated reading list comprising three dynamic and distinct texts that speak to the current moment,
• access to the live-streamed In Conversation with Buffy Sainte-Marie event on February 18,
• an opportunity to engage with questions and comments via live chat,
• access to the recorded In Conversation with Buffy Sainte-Marie for 7 days following the live event.

The Elements of Story is produced by Canadian Stage, in association with the Toronto International Festival of Authors.
Please visit the Canadian Stage box office to book your tickets.

Buffy Sainte-Marie is touring constantly, and coming off her critically acclaimed, award-winning 2015 album Power in the Blood, nobody could ever accuse the Academy Award-winning songwriter of taking it easy. Since her ground-breaking debut, 1964’s It’s My Way!, the Cree singer-songwriter has been a trailblazer and a tireless advocate, an innovative artist, and a disruptor of the status quo. In 1969, she made one of the world’s first electronic vocal albums; in 1982 she became the only Indigenous person to win an Oscar; she spent five years on Sesame Street where she became the first woman to breastfeed on national television. She’s been blacklisted and silenced. She’s written pop standards sung and recorded by the likes of Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Donovan, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. Photo credit: Matt Barnes.