“When we were born, all of us were invited to Yaahl’s feast, and all of us were given a special gift to share with the world.”
– Ravens Feast
Kung Jaadee
Cultural Connections: X̱aayda (Haida), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
Home Base: Vancouver, BC
Kung Jaadee (Roberta Kennedy) is a traditional Haida storyteller, singer and drummer belonging to the X̱aayda (Haida), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations. While she was born and raised in Haida Gwaii, she now resides with her family in North Vancouver on X̱wemelch’stn territory (Homulchesan), also known as the Capilano Reserve. She teaches Xaad Kil/Haida language and culture five days a week. For more than 29 years, she has delighted audiences across Canada at festivals, schools, museums, aboriginal celebrations and conferences. kung Jaadee loves singing her traditional Haida songs, drumming, laughing, baking and learning her language. Her name was presented to her at her great uncle’s memorial feast by her cousin, Crystal Robinson, and means ‘Moon Woman’.
Books by Kung Jaadee
Interviews & Articles
Trickster Raven makes a feast and friends in debut book by Haida Gwaii storyteller
"'We are all human beings and we are meant to live together,' says author Kung Jaadee"
Oct 23, 2016
Kung Jaadee (Roberta Kennedy) is a professional storyteller, educator and published author belonging to the X̱aayda (Haida), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations. While she was born and raised in Haida Gwaii, she now resides with her family in North Vancouver on X̱wemelch'stn territory (Homulchesan), also known as the Capilano Reserve. Her Haida name, Kung Jaadee, means ‘Moon Woman’ and was presented to her at her great uncle’s memorial feast by her cousin Crystal Robinson. Over the past 27 years, Kung Jaadee has performed traditional Haida legends teaching morals about sharing, helping others and loving herself, while also sharing vivid personal stories about her clan's survival of the smallpox epidemic, the history of her people and the racism she has endured over time. She has performed at hundreds of festivals, schools, universities, museums, Aboriginal celebrations and conferences across Canada. While living in Haida Gwaii, she taught X̱aad Kil, the Haida language while working with the Old Masset Village Council, at Chief Matthews School and the Haida Health Centre in Gaw Tlagee. Kung Jaadee holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minor in Women's Studies from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. She is a published author of the popular children's books, Raven's Feast and Gifts from Raven (selected as one of the Local BC Books to Read).
Kung Jaadee (Roberta Kennedy) is a professional storyteller, educator and published author belonging to the X̱aayda (Haida), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations. Over the past 27 years, she has performed traditional Haida legends teaching universal messages. She is also a published author of the popular children's books, Raven's Feast and Gifts from Raven (selected as one of the Local BC Books to Read), as well as a couple of First Nations textbooks. Kung Jaadee is available for live and virtual performances of Haida and Squamish stories.