Evening of Storytelling

media release: Join Amer­i­can Indian & Indigenous Stud­ies, along with the Depart­ments of Anthro­pol­ogy, Eng­lish, and Language Sciences, and in con­junc­tion with Wunk Sheek, for an evening of winter storytelling. Hear traditional stories in Native languages told by Indigenous sto­ry­tellers from across North America accompanied by English translations.

2025 Storytellers

Val Barber, Lac Courte Oreilles

Yaari Walker, St. Lawrence Island Yupik

Cantemaza (Neil McKay), Dakota

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early as seating may be limited.

Each winter, for more than 25 years the American Indian & Indigenous Studies program at UW-Madison has presented the Annual Evening of Storytelling. Each year, Indigenous Storytellers from diverse Tribal communities share stories in their Indigenous language followed by an English translation of the story.

The Annual Evening of Storytelling is unique among American Indian & Indigenous Studies programs in the United States and forges important connections between Tribal and non-Tribal communities, between generations, and between cultures. It provides the audience with an authentic and invaluable glimpse of this Indigenous narrative tradition. Many of these traditions are discussed in AIIS courses and the Evening of Storytelling offers a direct and tangible experience for students and community members to better understand the significance of these traditions.