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Convened by Dr Paul Halferty (pictured above), Director of the Centre for Canadian Studies in UCD, Landspeak: Poetry and Music from Ireland and Turtle Island/Canada was an evening of poetry and song, organised to welcome Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate Louise Halfe — Skydancer and Cree knowledge-keeper Joseph Naytowhow to Ireland.

Following an opening address from Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, Principal and Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, the evening began with a session in which Indigenous singer/songwriter and storyteller Joseph Naytowhow (Plains/Woodland Cree/nehiyaw) and Irish singer/songwriter and Gaeilgeoir Liam Ó Maonlaí shared songs from their traditions, and went on to discuss their music, and the importance of indigenous languages to their work. This was moderated by James Kelly of ICUF.

This was followed by a conversation on poetry. In a session moderated by Dr. Lucy Collins, Louise Halfe spoke and shared poetry with Irish Langauge poet Dr Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh. Halfe and Ní Ghearbhuigh read their poetry in Cree, Irish, and English, and engaged in conversation about the importance of their indigenous languages and their connections to land in their poetry.

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About the participants:

• Louise Halfe — Skydancer · Louise is Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada, having previously served as Saskatchewan’s Poet Laureate for two years and traveled extensively. She was raised on Saddle Lake Reserve. More about Louise Halfe — Skydancer »
• Joseph Naytowhow · Joseph is a Plains/Woodland Cree (nehiyaw) singer-songwriter, storyteller, and voice, stage, and film actor from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band in Saskatchewan. More about Joseph Naytowhow »
• Liam Ó Maonlaí · A founding member and frontman of the internationally successful Hot House Flowers, Liam also performs widely as a solo artist, and in collaboration with other musicians around the world. More about Liam Ó Maonlaí »
• Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh · Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh is an Irish-language poet and was born in Kerry. She has read at festivals in New York, Paris, Montréal, Berlin and Ballyferriter. More about Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh »
• Dr. Lucy Collins · Associate Professor, School of English, Drama and Film, UCD. More about Dr. Lucy Collins »
• James Kelly · James is CEO of the Ireland Canada University Foundation, a role which he balances with his work in the arts sector. More about James Kelly »