Friday & Saturday ::: November 13-14, 2009 7:30 PM
The Tribal Storytellers Symposium ::: Sunday afternoon, 15 November from 1:30 – 4 PMTickets ::: Sliding scale, $5 to $20
Location ::: Lewis and Clark College’s Agnes Flanagan Chapel, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, Portland, OR 97219
Winter is storytelling time among American Indian people. In Indian Country, tribal legends and songs are centuries-old traditions that touch our hearts, spirits and minds. In the ‘long ago time,’ tribal stories were passed down and lessons taught to the next generation by story keepers. They contain lessons intended to teach proper behavior without punishment or confrontation. Yesterday’s peoples faced similar choices in their lives as we do in ours today, and they become our ‘blueprints’ for strengthening positive values and making healthy choices in today’s world.
We embrace indigenous cultural values of respect, generosity, selflessness, humor and other qualities which have been instilled into us by our family, our community, and our ancestors. This we, in turn, aspire to pass on to tomorrow’s grandchildren.
Due to circumstances in history, some of our relatives have not heard their peoples’ stories. This festival is a place where we can connect with and learn from the wisdom and knowledge of our region’s tellers. It is for this reason that the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association (NISA) was formed in October 2005: To encourage, preserve and strengthen traditional storytelling and oral cultural arts among tribes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
We welcome all of the members of our increasingly diverse community to enjoy the richness of this evening’s stories and song at this year’s festival. All of our sessions will be opened in the traditional native way with drummers, song carriers from the region and an invocation by a spiritual elder. Some of the region’s finest storytellers will be joined by guest storytellers from Alaska and North Dakota.
The Northwest Indian Storytellers Association (NISA) was formed in October 2005 to encourage, preserve and strengthen traditional storytelling among tribes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and to share tribal oral cultural arts with the entire regional community.
Friday evening festival presenters:
- Little Eagle Drum Group opens the evening
- Invocation by Jim Amburn, Comanche elder
- Vincent Wannassay (Cayuse and Cowlitz) elder, storyteller, poet and Elders Advocate
- Esther Stutzman (Komemma Kalapuya and Coos) elder, storyteller and educator
- Darlene Foster (Warm Springs and Wasco) tribal storyteller and traditional food gatherer
- Woodrow Morrison (Haida) traditional storyteller, oral historian and attorney
Saturday evening festival presenters:
- Max Defender Sun Dance Drum Group opens the evening
- Invocation and storytelling by Max Defender (Ojibwe and Dakotah)
- Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwah S’Klallam) educator and storyteller
- Elizabeth Woody (Warm Springs) poet and storyteller
- Elaine Grinnell (Jamestown S’Klallam) traditional storyteller, basketweaver and linguist
- Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock, Yakama, Nez Perce and French) traditional storyteller
Our Silent Charity Auction will be held during the Friday and Saturday evening festival events for those who want to bid on Pendleton Legendary Design blankets & clothing, Native American arts & crafts, getaways, & other special items. Proceeds will help fund the emerging tribal storyteller trainings being held over the weekend by the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association.
Look for more information and announcements about the festival at Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. website shortly: www.wisdomoftheelders.org . For more info, you may also contact NISA (503) 517-9759 or e-mail NISA@wisdomoftheelders.org.
