Telling Our Stories

Since the 1970s, Louis Bird, a distinguished Aboriginal storyteller and historian, has been recording the stories and memories of Omushkego (Swampy Cree) communities along western Hudson and James Bays. In nine chapters, he presents some of the most vivid legends and historical stories from his collection, casting new light on his people's history, culture, and values. Working with the editors and other contributors to provide background and context for the stories, he illuminates their many levels of meaning and brings forward the value system and world-view that underlie their teachings. Students of Aboriginal culture, history, and literature will find that this is no ordinary book of stories compiled from a remote, disconnected voice, but rather a project in which the teller, deeply engaged in preserving his people's history, language, and values, is committed to bringing his listeners and readers as far along the road to understanding as he possibly can.

An Omushkego storyteller and his book	p. 33
A quotation story : "It must be your thigh bone that you hear"	p. 55
"Now, the question of creation" : stories about beginnings and the world before we came	p. 59
Introduction	p. 59
Giant animals	p. 66
Mi-she-shek-kak (the giant skunk)	p. 69
Creator talks to the animals about the emergence of the humans	p. 78
E-hep	p. 81
Mi-te-wi-win : stories of shamanism and survival	p. 87
Introduction	p. 87
The dream quest and Mi-te-wi-win	p. 91
Guidance and instruction from an older relative	p. 92
Dream quest	p. 92
Extra senses - mind power	p. 97
Mi-te-wak fights	p. 100
Introduction to the shaking tent	p. 103
The shaking tent	p. 104
Mi-tew power : stories of shamanic showdowns	p. 107
Introduction	p. 107
The legend of We-mis-shoosh	p. 107
The young orphan boy defeats a powerful and feared Mi-tew	p. 124
Omens, mysteries, and first encounters	p. 133
Introduction	p. 133
The Omushkego captive and the Na-to-way-wak : a remarkable escape	p. 143
Omens, mysteries, and first encounters with Europeans	p. 146
"I cannot have anything from these We-mis-ti-go-si-wak"	p. 147
"In the memory of the Wikeson I-skwe-o"	p. 149
Cha-ka-pesh and the sailors	p. 152
Strangers on Akimiski Island : helping a grounded ship	p. 157
Wa-pa-mo-win, the mirror	p. 160
"The wailing clouds" (Pa-so-way-yan-nask Chi-pe-ta-so-win)	p. 163
Introduction	p. 163
The wailing clouds	p. 169
Arrows and thunder sticks : technologies old and new	p. 189
Introduction	p. 189
On firearms and archery	p. 196
Mi-te-wi-win versus Christianity : Grand Sophia's story	p. 209
Introduction	p. 209
Grand Sophia's near-death experience	p. 212
Conclusion : problems and hopes	p. 225
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

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