Seek out stories and pass them on
Storytelling connects people to each other and their history in a way technology never can, which makes a campaign to celebrate our oral tradition vital, writes Bea Ferguson
Storytelling is the most ancient act of communication we, as human societies have. Stories provide ways to understand ourselves and others, and Scotland needs stories today more than ever.
A lonely dragon, the last of his kind, lived in a cave in a rocky cliff, deep in a valley. The villagers didn’t know what it was that was stealing their sheep and goats, but they knew it was something terrifying. One day a boy tending his sheep happened to sit down outside the cave and began to play his flute. When the playing stopped a deep voice from inside the cave asked for more. The boy played again and the dragon began to tell stories to the boy, stories of adventure and courage, but eventually told him his own story. When the boy discovered that it was a dragon in the cave, the dragon asked:
“Are you not frightened?” and the boy replied:
“I can’t be afraid of you, I know your story.”
(Adapted from a tale by Dan Keding)
Everywhere we look at the moment, we are bombarded by news and comment – most of it conflicting, depressing, negative and divisive; be it social media, the press or television. It seems as though we have abandoned tolerance and spirited debate in favour of fear, suspicion and fake news. We don’t have far to look for the ‘dragons’ in our own communities – refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants, political opponents. We are increasingly taking to touchscreens instead of community and we don’t really listen to each other any more. Is this the legacy we want to leave for our children? In this Year of Young People, let’s leave them a better legacy – the legacy of story.
Storytelling is an age-old art; the way in which communities passed on the history and culture of the tribe; the way the rules were handed down and the children were taught. The emotional connection with stories makes it a much more effective way to educate than through long lists of rules. That still holds very true today – for adults as well as children.
But Scotland today needs stories more than ever. We need to hear our own stories and stories from other traditions around the world. Stories which will remind us of our heritage and culture; inform us about the people who came before and of how they thought, felt, and loved. Stories which connect us with the wider world and give us insight into other communities and cultures; their differences and, more importantly, their similarities. And it is vital that we pass these stories on to future generations, to preserve our history and traditions and give a deeper insight into how our ancestors experienced their world.
Community is such an important word in this context too. Listening to a story with a group creates a feeling of shared humanity and when loneliness, isolation, fear and suspicion of others is becoming more prevalent in our communities, storytelling assumes an even greater role.
For many years now, I have been telling stories to all ages from nursery schools to nursing homes and every age in between. There is a vast quantity of research on the benefits of storytelling in education, but I have been fortunate enough to experience first-hand the tremendous gift which we can give to our children through passing on the legacy of story and it is vital that we all get involved. Be you parent, grandparent, teacher, policy maker or anyone with access to children, seek out stories and pass them on; your own stories, local myths, legends and folktales and stories from around the world.
Recently, working in high schools, through the Scottish Government Pupil Equity Fund, I was asked to use storytelling to raise the selfconfidence of pupils using oral literacy. These were schools in a deprived area of Scotland and the pupils selected were very reluctant to speak up in class. In one school I was also tasked with helping the pupils find local stories to tell in order to raise the levels of pride in the local area. At the end of the project, pupils who had initially been too shy to even tell me their names, shared their stories with a group of parents, grandparents, staff, other pupils and a group from a local day care centre. They were amazing and the sense of achievement just beamed from their faces.
So why do stories have such power?
The stories unearthed by the pupils were, in the main folktales. This is often defined as a tale or legend that springs from the shared history of a particular community of people. They have no individual author, but result from the shared and cumulative experience of many generations; passed
Stories which had been hidden in archives were once again being told by a new generation
down through the oral tradition of storytelling. They are old and enduring and speak to our common humanity. Even today, not every culture is literate, but every single culture has its stories. Stories are entertaining; stimulating, relaxing and just plain fun and it doesn’t matter how old you are, we all enjoy a good story well told.
Folk and traditional tales ignore reason, logic, fact and history, and speak to imagination, dreams and the creative powers lying dormant in us all. Storytelling stimulates emotional, imaginative and linguistic development; opens up communication; encourages participation and develops confidence and a sense of self-esteem. All of which is crucial in a world of technical advancements where oral communication is less and less heard.
Throughout the project, the pupils were introduced to as many stories as possible but encouraged to go and seek out their own in a variety of genres. They were also asked to bring back anecdotes and stories from family and friends and some great intergenerational stories came to light. In the case of local stories, we were fortunate to have the local Heritage Centre. Many of the very old tales have been lost through industrialisation, but some survive and there are the new ones – hauntings, stories of place and their names, stories of heroism, romance and of industrialisation itself. The pupils took ownership of the stories and told them in their own words. Stories which had been hidden in archives were once again being told by a new generation.
Stories remind of us of who we were and that we belong
It has been known for many years that storytelling with residents in care homes is invaluable in helping them to recall memories, but it was even more gratifying to see the response of the group from the day care centre when the young folk told their stories; an intergenerational event which will hopefully create an ongoing connection and unearthing of more stories.
If projects such as these could be replicated in every school in the country, then we might truly begin to leave a legacy of storytelling for Scotland and future generations.
This year, communities and schools are encouraged to take part in an initiative that celebrates the art of storytelling under the theme Growing Stories. The Local Storytelling Campaign is on until 30 November, bookending and running alongside the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. The theme this year highlights how stories can help communities grow together and how they can play a vital part in preserving heritage and cultures for new generations and for connecting us with the world.
Community groups and schools across Scotland are invited to book a storyteller for a local event, to strike-up activity and engagement with storytelling in their own way. Community groups can apply for a £75 subsidy towards the booking of a professional storyteller for a local event.
After all, community only exists if we communicate. Stories, the most ancient act of communication, allows us all to do this.
● Bea Ferguson is a professional storyteller, was chair of the Scottish Storytelling Forum and is a trustee on the board of Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
● For more on Scotland’s Local Storytelling Campaign, to book a storyteller or to find out more on the £75 subsidy to run an event – email National Storytelling Co-ordinator, Miriam Morris, Miriam@ tracscotland.org