The Arts and Older Adults

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Nadine Neema

Literary

I have worked with older adults in various writing workshops I have given through the Quebec Writers Federation Storyscaping program, as well as voice workshops with refugee women through Action Réfugiés Montréal and various workshops through music and poetry festivals where I have performed. I really enjoy working with this age group as people have more life experience to bring to the class. My approach is always to have exercises prepared then take my cues from the participants as to how best to proceed. As in every workshop, I plan and prepare ahead of time and then I improvise during the class based on the needs of the participants. I come with a bag of tricks, and I let the group show me the way. My goal is to help them tell their stories or write their poems.

Sample workshop:

1. Exploring Self-Expression is a creative writing workshop that will lead participants in telling their own stories through storytelling or poetry. I believe writing is an important tool towards healing and self-discovery. Participants will dig deep to express their stories and emotions through rhythmic writing or personal narrative. We will look at universal themes such as identity, loss, love, fear, happiness and longing. We will begin with fun group exercises to create a safe container where participants feel at ease sharing together. We will learn rules such as rhyme, meter and form, understanding that we should never sacrifice the meaning of a piece for these rules. We will explore some spoken word pieces and stories to help explain what makes a good piece. Each participant will choose their own theme and be guided through various writing exercises. No prior experience needed. By the end of our time together, the participants will have written a piece that they will be invited to share with the group, and they will have acquired creative tools that they can use for further writing.

2. Exploring Self-Expression Through Voice is a creative workshop to guide participants to explore their voices through sounds and songs. I believe our voices are important tools towards healing and self-discovery and a beautiful way to bring people together and create joy. We will begin with fun group exercises to create a safe container where participants feel at ease sharing together. We will explore different ways to use our voices, whether it is in unison, in harmony or otherwise. Participants will be guided on a journey of self-expression. We will learn some simple songs and be encouraged to share a song from our own cultures. No prior experience needed.

Materials:

Creative writing workshop: paper, pen/pencil, computer if possible. Voice workshop: no materials needed

Listed with:

ArtistsInspire, Culture in Schools

Available for:

In-person workshops, On-line workshops

Language(s) of facilitation:

English, French

Project type:

Older Adults and Intergenerational

Contact:

https://www.neema.ca/

Montreal

Land Acknowledgement

ELAN is an official minority language organization within a country that recognizes two languages as official. ELAN is located in Tiohtià:ke, the original name for Montreal in Kanien’kéha, the language of the Mohawk—also known as Mooniyang, which is the Anishinaabeg name given to the city by the Algonquin. While we are based in this city, our projects have also taken place in many regions across Quebec.

We acknowledge the colonial origin of English and French in Canada, and recognize that both languages benefit from official status throughout the land. The province that we know as Quebec is an amalgamation of the traditional territories of the Innu and Inuit nations, Algonquian nations, as well as the Mohawk nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Kanien’kéha and Anishinaabemowin are but two of the original languages of this province; Atikamekw, Cree, Inuktitut, and Innu-aimun are also among the many Indigenous languages spoken across Quebec as majority languages, all well before French and English.

ELAN acknowledges the important work being done by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to revive the traditional languages of these territories, and their advocacy for the official status of Indigenous languages.

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