Kenthen Thomas is an active Indigenous storyteller who shares allegorical tales about the land, animals, people, and natural processes of the Okanagan region, especially from the Shuswap area. A member of the Secwepemc Nation, he traces his ancestral roots on Turtle Island (Canada) back through many generations. His path to storytelling began through theatre in high school, when he would share stories casually without yet fully understanding their meaning. Later, as a teacher at the University of British Columbia, he came to realize that storytelling is not only about tales—it is also about the language of his ancestors and their way of perceiving the interconnectedness of the world.
His stories reveal the deep interconnection of plants, animals, objects, people, and the planet. In them, humans are not placed at the top of the food chain but are reminded to live with humility toward nature and its other inhabitants. Language is central to his storytelling: as Kenthen explains, it arises from the land itself, because people have always used language to describe the phenomena around them. His stories serve as unwritten laws, offering guidance on how to make decisions in different situations. Often it is the coyote who chooses poorly—showing listeners the consequences of actions, and thereby teaching them to decide differently in their own lives. “You can tell people what to do or not to do… but when you tell a story with different characters and you see the impact of their actions, it influences your own choices,” he says.
Kenthen holds some 30 stories in his repertoire, ready to be shared and taught when the moment calls for it. He performs in schools, at community celebrations, and in public gatherings, reviving the stories of his ancestors and honouring their original keepers for future generations.
For the Ore Mountains and Chemnitz 2025, he shares a story about coyotes and people. Its message remains unspoken here—reserved for those willing to listen.