“Legends That Teach” Roxane Letterlough & Kenthen Thomas STSEPTKWLE “Legends That Teach” Roxane Letterlough & Kenthen Thomas

Why stories are important - Reaching Back Many stories are many many generations old, that reach back to ancestors. Stories tell of how things came to be, Stories tell of how not to behave. Stories teach of basic values, family bonds, and of the history. Stories are our laws, “Royal Proclamation of 1910.”” They teach us how we interact and interrelate to the land, laws and ourselves. Most importantly, they bring joy to our hearts.

Protocols and Introductions: Take the time to show gratitude and respect first. Introduction: Who we are, where our land is, who our ancestors are and what we are doing here. Speaking of our ancestors is how we show respect for the stories and where they come from. It is also a way to cite our sources. We also acknowledge the land of the people that we are on. This is first and foremost. Respect and acknowledgement is always given in a good and kind way.

What we are going to do this morning. RL Explore how listening to a story being told is different from reading a story or hearing a story read aloud *What ideas and language have we gained that can help us write more coherent and detailed stories ourselves? What we are going to do this morning. Share, “The Story of Crow.” Answer a few questions: How can we as storytellers...involve our audience, how to use our voices and become characters in the story, how to use our bodies to give clues and hide clues and bring a story to life? What stories can we tell as non-indigenous educators use and how? Animal symbols? What are they and why are they important to understand? Discuss how; Explore how listening to a story being told is different from reading a story or hearing a story read aloud *What ideas and language have we gained that can help us write more coherent and detailed stories ourselves? Lastly, a quick review and the “Coyote Juggles His Eyes.”

“The Story of Crow.” Consider the characters named here and ask what lessons do they provide? How is the voice utilized to enhance the story and the meanings? How is the body used to perpetuate the story and to hide meaning? Lastly what do YOU take away from this story? Some examples might be; I feel like crow didn't take pride in his accomplishment or what tools could i use to enhance my lessons? Every telling and re-telling of the story creates new meanings.

Bringing the stories to life: engaging with the listeners. A long long long time ago the storyteller was revered for their ability to regale the listener and to create a space for entertainment and teaching. How we use our voice. Body Theatrics, storytelling games, theatre games, vocal exercises and play.

Sharing the stories. Thomas King, “The truth about stories is, that’s all we are.” Understand; the stories are our connection to the past, our ancestors, our teachings, our knowledge, the land and our language. Respect and feel that when you share a story of anyone's ancestors. Be mindful of why a story was created. Is it a family story or is it community story?

Animal people, transformers, or the preparers. Stories from our past are not seen as characters or creatures but as entities that provide or provided us humans with a certain something. The “animal people” in the stories provide us with two main ideas. 1. Is they teach us how the world came to be through their actions and reactions to the world that surrounded them within the stories. 2. They teach us ‘HOW NOT TO BEHAVE.’

The oral story, contrast and compare, versus written stories. The oral stories are stories from the tongues of the ancestors that have made their way into our mouths and into the space we share now. Each time that a story is told by a person it carries so much of that person's past and history. However it also carries the feelings and the knowledge of the ancestors and the words are alive in that moment that the story is told. Also the listener is their own person as well and they hear what they need and they feel what they need to feel in that moment. The words of the past are alive.

What tools do we have to share a story and what can we provide? Everyone is a storyteller, what did you do this weekend, what are you going to do, how was your summer? We all share stories or variations all the time. We are all storytellers. Stories are told in many ways; song, art, poetry, dance etcetera. Grab a children's book and sing it out loud or read it in a different genre. Utilize our ability to play.

Additional resources http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/legends-of-the-shuswap-mar-2010-encore-1.693831 http://www.landoftheshuswap.com/legend.html

CBC Legend’s of the Shuswap http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/legends-of-the-shuswap-1.2913217 1. Story of Tsetse (3:42 - 15:20) 2. Fish Lips (15:25 – 23:30) 3. Muskrat’s Revenge (28:51 – 38:06) 4. How Bear Lost His Tail (39:21 – 44:08) 5. Grandmother Spider’s Gift (44:45 – 50:43)

“Coyote Juggles his Eyes” How can this story be applied in your own classroom or learning atmosphere?