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Storytelling · Culture · Resilience

Defining
our identity.

We believe storytelling is the language of cultural resilience and identity — designing powerful initiatives for Black communities across Turtle Island.

Natural Born Tellers

500+
Stories Collected
12+
Communities Reached
8
Years of Work
Stories Yet to Tell

Why stories
matter now.

Natural Born Tellers designs initiatives that honour the power of storytelling within Black communities — preserving cultural memory and building identity across generations.

We operate at the intersection of art, history, and community — using narrative as a tool for healing, visibility, and collective power.

01
Preserve
Collecting and archiving the oral traditions and lived histories of Black communities across Turtle Island.
02
Amplify
Creating platforms and events that bring these stories to wider audiences with dignity and intention.
03
Connect
Building bridges between communities, generations, and cultures through the universal language of story.

Featured Initiative

The Origin Story
Project

A community-driven initiative collecting the origin stories of Black families — where they came from, what they carried, and what they built. Every story is a thread in the fabric of our collective identity.

Explore the Project

“Knowing where you come from is the first act of resistance. It is the first act of love.”

— Community Participant, 2023

Latest stories & reflections

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Community
The Griot Tradition and Why It Still Matters
How West African storytelling practices are finding new life in diaspora communities across Canada.

Identity
Storytelling as an Act of Cultural Resilience
When communities are erased from dominant narratives, telling your own story becomes a radical act.

Events
Highlights from Our 2024 Storytelling Circle
A recap of the voices, memories, and connections made at our annual gathering last fall.

We honour Turtle Island

As people of African descent, we offer this recognition in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. We acknowledge the land that was never meant to be owned, and the complexities of our shared histories. We express deep gratitude and pledge to honour the dignity and divinity that ultimately connects us. Meegwetch.