Native Storytelling

This family-friendly page is for sharing Native American stories, legends and folklore. The content here includes historic and cultural information that you may, or may not have heard before, and many other types of stories.

Stories are useful to preserve historic facts, teach young ones lessons of life, express the deepest hopes and fears of the heart, entertain, amaze and amuse.

Stories are much more that just entertainment (although many stories have an entertainment value). Stories are how we express ideas, experiences, dreams, losses, and just plain fun.

Stories help us relate to each other as humans, sharing this planet, in this day in time. Stories are a link to the past and a bridge to the future.

A picture can tell a story too; as in the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words". Sometimes an action or image tells a stronger story than words. Other times one can "paint a word picture" to help the imagination visualize the elements of the story as described by words.

We like to help people's stories be heard.

Everyone has a story. What is YOUR story?

Storytelling through dance, drama, and music.

Maori Dancers came through the Pacific Northwest

Dramatic Influence New Zealand team, made up of Maori and Native American young people between 14 and 28 years of age are touring the U.S. and Canada with their inspiring program geared to Native American and First Nations youth. Through Maori song and dance, and drama, sign language, hip-hop and rap music they present the messages: "It's Cool to Stay in School", and "BE FREE: drug-free, alcohol-free, tobacco-free, and violence-free".

Dramatic Influence New Zealand has a program to develop leadership and inspire others to achieve their potential.

Featured Lenses

TWELVE PEARLS

Pictured here: Denise, the design artist and creator of these elegant pieces, with her husband Ben. They work together in personally hand selecting and purchasing the materials used in every piece. Denise makes all the jewelr...

Youth 4 You

What a great time of life... to be a Youth. How can the Now Generation make a difference? What should the focus of change be? What should be just left alone? These are some of the topics that we will visit. Come-on in, participate, leave a...

Dramatic Influence New Zealand

You may ask... what's this lens about. So... Here's whaazzup. We are a group of Maori young people from New Zealand, under the leadership of Dramatic Influence New Zealand founder, Fred Cooper. We are aged between 15-28. We travel through the U...

Tribal Journeys of the Pacific NW

Tribal Journeys of the Pacific Northwest is an annual cultural event of Native American, First Nations people. Native Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest honor the ancestral modes of communications, travel and commerce in this unique happening...

Native Nations GPR

Native Indigenous People, Information, News, Events, Issues and Concerns will be topics featured in this page. We hope to inform, educate, encourage and challenge those who visit here. The Native Indigenous Tribes, Nations and People groups are...

Clowns are People Too

Jusby Clown presents his talents in many ways: in parades, hospitals and schools.

Clowning can be fun for everyone.

Use the link below to find, read and listen to Jusby Clown's story.

Telling Stories with Humor

There are many ways to tell stories with humor

See and Hear the Clown Story - CLICK HERE: There are many ways to tell your story. Did you ever think of a clown as being a storyteller? Some will tell a story without using words. This is Jusby Clown's story.

Happy Mothers Day

Wishes for all the mom's and grandmothers to have a wonderful day. We hope you know that you are loved and appreciated!

Honoring ceremony for Elder, Don Eddy

Don has been a loyal supporter and participant in the canoe journeys. It was very special to honor him for this and in celebration and appreciation of his life.

In addition to presentation of a paddle, there were songs sung to further honor a cherished soul. Don has a very special place in all our hearts.

What is Tradition?

NN-GPR: What do You Think Tradition Means? CLICK HERE: Does keeping Native Cultural Traditions mean that we must be locked in a time-warp, doing everything as it was done a hundred years ago, or a thousand years ago, or more?

Read more on this. See what you think.

STORY OF ANT AND BEAR

How the length of day and night were determined

A new episode of THE TALKING STICK is available.

Native Storytelling with Ben Charles: The Ant and the Bear, How the Length of Day and Night Were Determined.

This is a short story about the dispute of the ant and the bear, and why each wanted a certain length of darkness and daylight.

Listen to the story, and see who "won" this debate. You may be surprised on how this story turns out.

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More on Storytelling

Etiquette and How-to for beginners

Storytelling, Copyrights and Source Etiquette - CLICK HERE to learn more: Excerpt from Barry McWilliams - Effective Storytelling, A manual for beginners. "A storyteller's personal, family, and original stories are her/his copyrighted property. It is unethical and illegal to tell another person's original, personal, and/or family stories without the permission of the author/storyteller."
Effective Storytelling, A manual for beginners - CLICK HERE for more: This is a guide for the beginner, and additional insights for the experienced storyteller. Learn more.

Story of Old Grandmother Loon as told by Ben Charles

Audio Podcast program: Story of Old Grandmother Loon

Have you ever wondered about the Loon and her mornful call? This story of Old Grandmother Loon will come to mind every time you hear the loon.

Listen to how a grandmother attempts to save her grandchildren from certain disaster.

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Buy the Book

Mama Bear Baby Bear

by Linda Silvas

Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 07/25/2008)