SOFT AS BONES: A Journey Through Story, Survival, and Becoming

Keynote by Chyana Marie Sage.

In Soft as Bones, Cree and Métis author Chyana Marie Sage unearths the bones of her own story — one marked by intergenerational trauma, survival, love, and the radical act of healing through words. From growing up in the Prairies with a father entangled in the justice system, to being expelled from high school, to becoming the first-ever Indigenous graduate of Columbia University’s Creative Nonfiction program, Chyana’s journey is a testament to resilience, reclamation, and the transformative power of education and storytelling.

In this keynote, Chyana weaves together readings from her acclaimed debut memoir with a deeply moving reflection on what it means to rebuild a life from the inside out. She takes audiences behind the scenes of her writing and healing process — from the first raw drafts written in moments of quiet survival to the day her story found its home with House of Anansi Press.

Drawing on her current work as Content Writer & Storyteller at Indspire, Chyana also illuminates how her academic, creative, and cultural paths continue to intertwine. Through her role amplifying Indigenous voices across the country, she speaks to the power of education as a tool for empowerment, identity reclamation, and systemic change.

This keynote invites audiences to:

• Explore how trauma, resilience, and creativity can coexist

• Understand the profound role education can play in healing, empowerment, and possibility

• Witness the making of Soft as Bones — a story carried through generations

• Reflect on their own stories, and the truths held in their bodies and bones

• Reimagine what support, community, and transformation can look like for Indigenous youth and students today

Perfect for:
Educational conferences • Universities & graduation events • Mental health & healing summits • Literary festivals • Youth gatherings • Leadership & professional development • Community events centered on story, wellbeing, and resilience.

Soft as Bones is not only a personal reckoning — it’s an offering to those who carry stories within them, waiting to be told. Chyana’s keynote is tender, powerful, and unflinchingly honest — a call to honour where we come from, and to believe in who we have the capacity to become.

Available for: keynotes, panels, readings, guest lecturer, voice acting, screenwriting, and modelling. <3

chyanamariesage@gmail.com