An Afternoon at TIFF with Trinity Reads and Skills For Change
By Arlo Grzyb-Reed
Trinity Reads Student Committee 鈥� Library Liaison
As another semester comes to an end, Trinity Reads wrapped up a term of events such as author talks, and workshops with a November 22 screening of Hayao Miyazaki鈥檚 Princess Mononoke (1997) at TIFF. Participants joined community partner to watch Miyazaki鈥檚 eco-masterpiece, followed by a Trinity Reads climate mixer and author talk with U of T alum Zalika Reid-Benta.
The event kicked off with a pre-screening discussion led by student representatives for Skills for Change鈥檚 . Facilitated by Rafia Salam, representatives Sunita Lall, Kiethan Theva, and Abdishakur Aligure described sustainability as innovative, creative, and inspiring as younger generations redefine the future. The Toronto-based group sparked hopeful conversation about sustainability, land connection, and the role of Toronto鈥檚 youth during the climate crisis.
Skills for Change鈥檚 inspiring words about youth and climate action served as a perfect transition into Princess Mononoke鈥檚 central message. Inspired by Japanese mythology, history, and nature, Miyazaki鈥檚 film explores people, progress, and what can happen when we no longer respect the land and honor its protectors. Following an exiled prince and a girl raised by angered animal spirits, the film bridges the gap between human and non-human worlds and looks to youth for a necessary change. 鈥淵ou cannot alter your fate. However, you can rise to meet it if you so choose,鈥� spoke an elder as Prince Ashitaka embarked on his quest. While deeply metaphorical, Miyazaki鈥檚 work allows us to think about what the future might hold for our current climate crisis, and whether we鈥檙e prepared to meet the challenges put in place by past generations.
Conversations about land, climate, and creativity continued at the post-film mixer and Trinity Reads author talk in TIFF鈥檚 upper-floor lounge. The talk, hosted by Trinity鈥檚 Director of Literary Programming Leanne Toshiko Simpson and Trinity Reads student organizer Adaora Olisa, explored Zalika Reid-Benta鈥檚 shortlisted novel, “.” The story follows Alicia, a young Black woman tasked with helping a Jamaican water deity in the city of Toronto. Reid-Benta explores Alicia鈥檚 journey of cultural identity, re-connecting with your roots, and navigating a diasporic identity in Toronto鈥檚 lively鈥攁nd perpetually traffic-jammed鈥攅nvironment.
鈥淭here is no way to write about spirituality and connection to your ancestors and not write about your connection to the land,鈥� Zalika explained. As a Jamaican-Canadian author, she emphasized how immigrant and diasporic communities in Toronto hold a unique spiritual and cultural connection to the land they stand on and the land their ancestors came from. Her words mirrored many of the cultural and environmental themes rooted in Miyazaki鈥檚 Princess Mononoke, reflecting core values encapsulating Trinity Reads and its relationship with land, community, and creative innovation.
River Mumma is one of five shortlist books, selected and campaigned by Trinity Reads throughout the year. Reid-Benta鈥檚 talk marks the second event featuring a shortlisted author, in preparation for the Trinity Reads panel and bookfair on the evening of January 29 in Seeley Hall.
As a college-led initiative for literature and sustainability, the Trinity Reads Campaign will continue contributing to our campus community with exciting, sustainable, and mindful events in the new year.
Photo Credit: Scott Dion
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