A Storyteller’s Story
One of my breakfast friends, Mary Ann, is a story teller. I can attest to having learned a great deal about the Navajo Indian tribe, as she was a guest at my Red Hat gathering one day.
Yet, I wanted to know more about a “storyteller’s story,” so I asked Mary Ann some questions. This is her story:
How did you get such an interest in telling Navajo stories?
I spent a year as a missionary on the Navajo Reservation beginning in the spring of 2000. I learned to appreciate the Native American culture and how they often taught life’s lessons through stories.
What happened when you returned to Pennsylvania again?
Within a year of returning, I attended an event where a storyteller told a Navajo tale about Grandmother Spider stealing a piece of the sun. I was hooked, especially when I heard that the storyteller taught her skills to others. I gathered a group of friends and we spent two full weekends learning the basics from her.
Did you only tell stories about Native Americans?
Over the next few years, I attended multiple Native American events in Pennsylvania and New York, and heard many other stories that were intriguing. I also researched old stories, with no copyright issues, and continued to like the Native American stories. In the meantime, I honed my own public speaking skills by giving programs about my year with the Navajos. At some of the presentations, especially to senior citizen’s groups, I mentioned that I could also tell stories. Soon I was getting invited back to do storytelling and was listed in the list of speakers for Berks County Senior Citizen’s group.
Other than Native American, what kind of stories do you tell?
Many of my stories involve animals who can talk to each other. I have two bins of large hand puppets, which I pass out to audience members, and have them act out the story as I tell it. Puppets appeal to every age group from the seniors to preschool age children. Several years ago I was going to three daycare groups on a regular basis, but two closed, or changed ownership, so my schedule is much quieter now.
Tell me more about this Jonesborough, Tennessee festival you attended?
Two years ago, I got to do something that has been on my bucket list. We attended the National Storytelling Festival, held in early October. Jonesboro is a small town nestled in the hills of Tennessee that comes alive for this event every year. This festival started in 1973 when 60 people came to hear Appalachian tales from a hay wagon. It has now grown to the current three-day festival that draws more than 10,000 to a town smaller than Oley — there isn’t even a traffic light in town.
Five huge circus tents are erected to provide the venue. The storytellers are very professional. Some have more degrees than your doctor and many teach on University level. In 2017, in addition to the “regulars” there will be tellers from Appalachia, Asia, Africa, Israel, Martha’s Vineyard, Scandinavia, Cowboys, and even one who is deaf. You can hear folktales, whistlers, poets, traditional and contemporary tales and songs accompanied by a wide variety of instruments. Of course, there are ghost stories after dark.
How does one go about getting to this event?
Make reservations many months in advance. The one hotel in town is reserved for those working the festival, but there are others within a 20 mile radius that are nice. All the local schools close down to provide parking with continual buses going into town. The only parking in town is reserved for the handicapped. Bring your walking shoes, as the town is hilly. You get a program of events in each of the five tents and can stay in another to follow your favorites. The show goes on rain or shine. When we were there, several heavy rainstorms came through, but we stayed inside the tents until it blew over. You can even try out your own skills by signing up to perform a five minute story yourself in a smaller venue. Even my companion, who was not overly interested about storytelling, had a great time.
Incidentally, there is a Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild that started in 1998. If you only like to listen to stories, but don’t wish to be a storyteller, you can sign up for the events. If you are serious about being a storyteller, you receive Guild promotions. Check their web site where you can find a wide range of story tellers, from Pennsylvania Dutch material, folktales, to children’s stories for your group.