Art of the story, Voice of the land

His hands speak along with his powerful, yet gentle, voice. His audience follows his moves. They are not always children. Alan's gift for the oral tradition of story telling transcends age boundaries.

You can take in a sampling of Chumash and Tatavium stories at the Children of Many Colors Powwow on Saturday, July 21 from 2 PM to 4 PM. Alan will find a space somewhere between the dance arena and the row of vendors that circle it, and transform it into a timeless landscape where animals speak a language we can understand, and find themselves engaged in day to day activities that may include things like capturing the sun.

There are some fundamental differences in Euro-centric versus Native American stories. The first and most obvious is the delivery. Most European stories are written, and read out loud to audiences too young to read them. In cultures that embrace oral tradition, learning to tell stories is an art form and, importantly, a powerful way to remember and retain knowledge and cultural connection. You cannot tell a story if you have not memorized it.

There are other interesting distinctions. Contemporary Native people often do write, and when that writing speaks of their own story, whether in poetry or novel, there is a strong sense of place. The land and its elements matter. In fact, place might be the anchoring theme.

There is relationship and perspective, and here perhaps is where the Native and the European story trot off in opposite directions. The characters in an indigenous story may not even include people. But they will be rich in animals with fully developed characters, and plants and rocks and even mountains and streams that are sentient, interactive beings.

" I tell a lot of coyote stories because they are humorous and show both our strengths and weaknesses" Alan explains. "But, the small creatures are my favorites; lizard, towhee and spider to name a few. I like them, because they are small and over-looked, like Native Americans. We are small in number, but big in spirit.

Alan sums it up succinctly.

"Storytellers are first and foremost entertainers. But, a Native story, I believe, also has a lesson. Our stories do not usually deal with morals or good versus evil like European myth and legend. Stories were used to teach lessons to the children, to make us see the humor in life and to boast of our strengths. Today, Native stories explain our tribal views and beliefs."

Tribal views and beliefs are not passive elements of Alan's life. His dedication to cultural continuity is long standing, extensive, and definitely not reserved to story telling.

"I have been actively involved with several Native American groups. I am a founding member of the Kern County Native American Heritage Preservation Council and the Chumash Maritime Association. I am a member of the California Indian Advisory Council for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. I have been a community advisor with the Ventura County Indian Education Consortium for over 19 years. And I am currently on the Elder’s Council for the Fernandeno Tataviam, and a member of the Environmental Review Board for the city of Malibu."

Alan will also be offering the opening invocation for the Children of Many Colors Powwow on Saturday, a fitting role for a man with deep roots in the local soil.

"My family has traced our family ancestry to the Chumash village of Ta’apu, now known as Simi Valley and the Tataviam village of Chaguayanga near Castaic, California. We are Ventureno Chumash and Tataviam. My ancestors were brought into the San Fernando Mission starting in 1803. And I still continue to actively protect my ancestors village sites and tribal territories. " Alan has been a site monitor and cultural resource advisor since 1995.

One of Alan's most significant contributions to the cultural survival of Chumash heritage is his involvement with the tomol, the traditional ocean-going vessel of California's indigenous coastal tribes.

"As a member of the Chumash Maritime Association I helped build the first working traditional Chumash plank tomol, or canoe, in modern times and have paddled in this plank canoe for 20 years."

What does it take to be all this and a story teller too?

"Finally, in order to be a storyteller you have to be extremely good looking. That is what my tribal elders told me when they asked me to be a storyteller."

Redbird's 18th Children of Many Colors Powwow begins Saturday, July 21, but festivities start on Friday evening with an open flute circle, where all wind instruments and their players are invited to share. All experience levels are welcome.

The powwow is hosted by the non-profit association Redbird, and sponsored in part by Moorpark College, the California Arts Council, Ventura County Community Foundation, the Moon Family Trust and Lodge Circle Ministry.

Where: Moorpark College Athletic Field, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark 93021
When: Friday 6-10 PM Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM
For more information: redbirds_vision@hotmail.com or text (818) 279-4366

For more information about Redbird please visit www.RedbirdsVision.org