
STORYTELLING
"Storytelling is used in a variety of ways. It is used to teach children how they should behave and why, and to pass on knowledge about everyday life such as how and when to find certain foods. Stories are also used to explain peoples’ spirituality, heritage and the laws. Dreaming stories pass on information to young people about creation, how the land was formed and populated, creation of plants, animals and humans, information about ancestral beings and places, the boundaries of peoples’ tribal lands, how ancestors came to Australia, how people migrated across the country and arrived in a particular part of the country.
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The elders use every opportunity to educate the children about the way of life of their people. Stories are told while walking down to the waterhole or grinding up seeds to make damper (bread) or sitting around the campfire at night. As children grew older more information is passed on about their culture. Once a person becomes an adult they are responsible for passing on the information they had learned to the younger people.
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Storytelling ensures that Aboriginal heritage is passed on to the younger people. This is how Dreaming stories have been passed down for thousands of years and continue to be passed on today” (Parrtjima Australia Northern Territory Major Events Company Pty Ltd. 2017).
References
Parrtjima Australia Northern Territory Major Events Company Pty Ltd. (2017). Storytelling in the Aboriginal
Culture. Retrieved from https://parrtjimaaustralia.com.au/culture/storytelling-in-aboriginal-culture/
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
RECOMMENDED LITERATURE (RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS)
1. Journey to Literacy (Author: Katherena Vermette, Illustrator: Irene Kuziw)
"The play-based learning and individualized strategies in this practical book build on the wide range of literacy skills present in the kindergarten classroom. This resource explores simple ways to use traditional learning centres to provide children with real and authentic reasons to listen, speak, read, write, and view. Teachers will find a wealth of resources for creating meaningful learning experiences, including: answers to often-asked questions; milestones to inform teaching instruction; activities and games for both individuals and groups, and literacy extensions that involve children with quality literature, authentic artifacts, and recordings This highly readable book will support teachers as they move beyond worksheets and nurture students on their journey to lifelong literacy."
ISBN: 9781551382616
Suggested Grade Levels: K (age 5)
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2. Wild Berries (Author: Julie Flett)​
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3. The Drum Calls Softly (Author: David Bouchard)​
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"The author draws inspiration from her Métis heritage and has created a beautiful and engaging children's alphabet with a twist. All the letters are taken from words in the Michif language. The language developed as a combination of French and Cree or Ojibwe. This uniquely Canadian development does not contain the letters Q and X and the author/illustrator respects this fact."
ISBN: 9781897476284
Suggested Grade Levels: K-3 (ages 5-8)
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1. Cry Rock [Documentary] (By Banch Hanuse)
"Less than fifteen Nuxalk language speakers and storytellers remain in Bella Coola, British Columbia, today. One of these elders is the director Banchi Hanuse's 80-year-old grandmother. In a technologically obsessed century, it would seem easier to record Nuxalk stories for future generations, but Hanuse resists. Instead, she asks whether an electronic recording can capture the true meaning and value of these oral traditions. More importantly, can it be considered cultural knowledge? Cry Rock examines how Nuxalk stories are more than mere words. With the passing of an elder, an invaluable link to a treasure of knowledge and experience reflecting the Nuxalk [Nuxalkmc] world view is lost. As Hanuse struggles with the decision, a spine tingling story about the Cry Rock in the bend of the Atnarko River, nestled in the Bella Coola Valley, is retold by Clyde Tallio, a young Nuxalk man."
Publisher: [Bella Coola, BC] : Smayaykila Films,
Suggested Grade Levels: 4, 5, 7 (ages 10-13)
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LESSON PLAN
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1. Oral Storytelling and Class Story Blanket
This educational resource consists of two lessons exploring the dramatic and artistic elements of storytelling. Students will learn about the significance of Aboriginal storytelling. They will explore various examples of Aboriginal stories as well as other stories. Using the knowledge they gain from this experience, students will write their own story and use dramatic techniques to retell it. They will also create a class "story blanket" and have the option to video record their final product.
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Retrieved from https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/stories/020020-4000-e.html
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
ARTICLES/JOURNALS
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1. 11 Things you should know about aboriginal oral traditions (Article)
Oral traditions retain the history of Aboriginal Peoples by passing cultural information from one generation to the next.
Retrieved from https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/11-things-you-should-know-about-aboriginal-oral-traditions
Suggested Grade Levels: Junior/Senior High School
2. Indigenous Digital Storytelling in Video: Witnessing with Alma Desjarlais (Article)
Indigenous digital storytelling in video is a way of witnessing the stories of Indigenous communities and Elders, including what has happened and is happening in the lives and work of Indigenous peoples.
Retrieved from http://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/10665684.2011.591685
Suggested Grade Levels: Junior/Senior High School
3. Storytelling in a digital age: digital storytelling as an emerging narrative method for preserving and promoting indigenous oral wisdom (Article)
This article outlines the methodological process of a transdisciplinary team of indigenous and non-indigenous individuals, who came together in early 2009 to develop a digital narrative method to engage a remote community in northern Labrador in a research project examining the linkages between climate change and physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.
Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/doi/full/10.1177/1468794112446105
Suggested Grade Levels: Junior/Senior High School
4. Indigenous Storytelling, Truth-telling, and Community Approaches to Reconciliation (Article)
Indigenous storytelling is connected to our homeland and is crucial to the cultural and political resurgence of Indigenous nations.
Retrieved from http://www.corntassel.net/IndigenousStorytelling%202009.pdf
Suggested Grade Levels: High School
WEBSITES
1. First Nations Pedagogy Online (Website)
A collection of oral and digital stories. Story Teller Worksheet to help you plan a learning activity for students to participate in story telling.
Retrieved from http://firstnationspedagogy.ca/storytelling.html
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2. Circle of Stories (Website)
Circle of Stories uses documentary film, photography, artwork and music to honor and explore Native American storytelling.
Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/circleofstories/index.html