Events

This event will be held in the travel alcove and as a simultaneous YouTube livestream. I Love My Aunty Because… shares the important role aunties play in Métis culture. Elena Bentley captures the love different nieces and nephews have for their aunties and their roles in their lives. From aunties who make the tastiest bannock, to aunties who tell the best stories, to aunties who are the smartest teachers, readers are sure to find an aunty they can relate to. I Love My Aunty Because… is beautifully illustrated by Kate Boyer, who captures the relationships shared in the story. The story is translated into Southern Michif by Irma Klyne and Larry Fayant.

Elena Bentley is a poet, writer, editor, and proud Métis aunty. She is the author of the children’s picture book, The Pickle in Grandma’s Fridge. In 2023, she was shortlisted for CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition (Young Adult category). In 2025, she was accepted for and participated in a two-week residency program for Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children’s Books at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, mentored by Métis author Jen Ferguson. Elena is the Editor for Grain Magazine.

David Morin is the Director of Culture and Heritage at the Gabriel Dumont Institute and has been a part of the department for over 23 years. A proud Métis from St. Adolphe, Manitoba, right along the Red River, David has made Saskatchewan his home since childhood. Throughout his career, David has worked to preserve and promote Métis knowledge and culture. He has worked with Michif knowledge keepers, served as the graphic designer and editor for more than 100 books published by GDI Press, and contributed over 60 articles to various educational and cultural publications.