(YELLOWKNIFE)  Monday, November 24, 2014 – The Legislative Library welcomes Dennis Allen, filmmaker and storyteller from the Mackenzie Delta, to the Ledge Talk “stage” on Thursday, November 27 at 7:30 pm.

Dennis will speak on “The Art of Storytelling,” an art he wields with full use of all the tools, from thoughtful sensitivity to deadly sarcasm. Not surprisingly then, Allen describes himself as a pool shark, cat skinner, muskrat trapper, roughneck, grave digger and bluesman. He may even be all of those things; we know from his Take Two newspaper column that he and “Chubby,” his partner in many adventures, always tell the truth as they see it. However, he may be guilty of overlooking pertinent facts on occasion. Thus, we must add writer, director, and humorist to his list of trades. 

Perhaps most important, Dennis Allen is fearless in his approach to his work. His award-winning films tend to have tough issues at their core. He is just winding up the NWT launch of his latest film, Crazywater, a raw and emotional story of substance abuse and resilience in First Nations communities. His last film, CBQM, offers a brilliant and unvarnished peek at the community of Fort McPherson – a story that earned him the coveted Alanis Obomsawin Award for Best Documentary at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival.

Born in Inuvik to Gwich’in and Inupiat parents, Dennis Allen now lives in Whitehorse, where he says “you can’t swing a cat without hitting an artist.”

There will be time for questions and discussion following the presentation. Media and the public are welcome.

Ledge Talks: The Knowledge Series is a forum for a wide variety of speakers to present current ideas, science, traditional knowledge, and issues relevant to the Northwest Territories and beyond.  Ledge Talks will also showcase research done by the many GNWT employees – often with collaborating partners – who are making substantial contributions to the world’s understanding of the North. 

For more information on Dennis Allen, visit: http://www.mackdelta.com/Mackenzie_Delta_Films/Home.html

For more information, please contact:

Vera Raschke, Legislative Librarian
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2203 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-920-4735
E: vera_raschke@gov.nt.ca