STORYTELLING

TEACHER BACKGROUND: The Washoe people did not have a written language before white people came to this area. How did they learn what they needed to know to live without a written language and books like we have today? stories were and are a very important part of Washoe culture. Stories explain phenomena in nature -- how this lake or this mountain got here, why we have thunder and lightning. They define relationships between people, and between people and animals and the earth. They pass on the culture and history of a people, and they entertain -- just like stories today, or movies, or plays, or books, or jokes. They teach children how to behave and how to treat other people, without being too obvious or boring, and without directing their lessons at anyone in particular: Often they have animals as the main characters, and through these animals, they show good and bad behavior. They teach people about the environment in which they live, and the way to survive in it. The Washoe children used to listen to stories before bed, and they would learn about the foods in the area, the medicines for-various illnesses and injuries, and other important survival tips.

KEY POINTS: Why stories were and are important to the Washoe and to everyone.

(NOTE: The activities in Appendix B: Storytelling Activities are for use with any of the stories told in this or other lessons of this unit. This lesson is merely a point at which to emphasize the importance of stories to traditional and contemporary Washoe life.)

MATERIALS: VCR and cassette tape player.

MATERIALS FROM KIT: Celebrating Nevada Indians, Washoe stories cassette tape and Dresslerville Players videotape.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Read "The Bear, the Crane, and the Deer,'' Celebrating Nevada Indians, pp. ST-24-25, and discuss the story with the students. For instance, what does the story teach us (examples: the ways of nature, save your own hide, do not trust people outside of your own family, be loyal to your family). Was it suspenseful, entertaining? Is a story the same every time someone tells it? Be sure to remind them that everyone can take different meanings and lessons from the same story. [Washoe vocabulary words for this story are 'dah-ba (bear), 'gah'gah (crane), and mem-'deh-wee (deer).]

2. Watch the Dresslerville Players videotape, the first segment is in English the second repeats the video with Washoe language narration. By viewing them in reverse order you may wish to test the children's ability to comprehend what is happening in the story without the benefit of understanding the language.