On Friday, February 3, TLAM attended The University of Wisconsin American Indian Studies Program’s 15th annual Evening of Storytelling. The night began with the Wunk Sheek Drum Group silencing us with their native song, sparking the mood that would encompass the night.
After a prayer, given to us by John Teller, onto the stage came Sunny Dooley, a storyteller from the Four Corners area of the southwest and member of the Chi Chil’ Tah community. Sunny regaled us in Dine (or Navajo); an epic tale of Coyote and how his mischievous behavior led to his death. Before stepping off the stage, she left us with a message to live your life in the best way possible. Following Ms. Dooley was John Teller, the Menominee Language Liaison at College of Menominee Nation. He told the story of the creation of the North Star by Manabush, a Menominee hero. Last, but not least, Mark Dennings, a member of the Ojibwe, Oneida, and Menominee tribes, stepping in for Mary Louise Defender-Wilson, who was unable to participate, delivered a multimedia presentation which included personal anecdotes that related to traditional stories from his youth. His stories illustrated a different way of looking at life, from a native perspective (clearly demonstrated by listening to two versions of the same song: Judy Garland versus Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow). He expressed how the native way is already in the place that Judy Garland yearns to be a part of, they do not have to wish for it because that is home.
Overall, the evening of storytelling left the audience with an incredible feeling of community. We left with the knowledge that this event was gift and that it should be cherished. For the two hours that we were among these storytellers, we became unified in the offering being bestowed upon us and we each grew in our own way from this gift.
– Dorothy Terry