The Watershed History Collective/Native American Storytelling

  • $10

Native American Storytelling

About this Module

Why did Native Peoples tell stories?  What were the roles of animals and natural elements, and what types of morals or explanations did stories provide?  This module includes an introduction to Native American Storytelling and three stories, told by Native Peoples.

This program is suitable for general audiences.  If you are an educator, please see our version made for schools which features complementing teaching aids.  

Meet the Educators

Annawon Weeden is an enrolled member of his mother’s Mashpee Wampanoag tribal community located on Cape Cod, Mass.  He formerly worked in the Cultural Resource Dept. for his father's tribe, the Mashantucket Pequot in Connecticut.  Annawon has developed a comprehensive understanding of the diversity among native customs, and his passion for preserving culture has been clear throughout decades of working at and for numerous institutions, such as Plimoth Plantation, National Geographic, and PBS.
Allen Hazard is a renowned jewelry sculptor, wampum artist, and member of the Narragansett tribal nation.  After learning from his mother, he has been making wampum for more than 30 years.  His shop, The Purple Shell, is located in Charlestown, Rhode Island. 
Judith Dreyer is a Master Gardener and teacher with more than 20 years  of experience developing workshops and classes, speaking and writing about holistic health, edible and medicinal plants, dreams and more.  She has degrees in Nursing and Nutrition Science and has taught Holistic Health Studies and Nutrition Science at both university and college level. Judith has traveled a wheel of diverse learning and experiences.

Contents

Introduction to Storytelling

Creation Stories

Earth on Turtle's Back, a Creation Story
Maushop the Giant, a Wampanoag Legend

Stories with Morals

How the Woodland Thrush Got Its Song
How the Possum Got Its Tail
Allen Hazard Introduction
The Story of Brother Turtle

Stories that Teach

Judith Dreyer Introduction
Legend of the Three Sisters
Origin of Disease and Medicine
Copyright 2023, Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum, Inc.
(860) 289-1783