Debra Morningstar asked Oliver to pull this blue snake out of her bag so he (the snake) could help her tell a story. Debra didn't know it then, but snakes are very important to Oliver. He was born in The Year of the Snake. This simple act had more meaning for him than she knew at the time. I made sure to tell her after the program.
Every time she said "snake" in the story, Oliver was supposed to shake the rattle. When she said "snake," we listeners were supposed to hissss like a snake. Sorry for the blurry pictures--these are all action shots with no flash, as I didn't want to distract her.
Here, the kids are listening, and Debra is telling the story, singing, and beating her drum for emphasis.
The 2nd part of the program was for adults. A big part of Debra's mission and purpose as a storyteller is to dispell the many stereotypes about Native Americans. She told a moving (and true) story about her Gramma Cassie being ripped from her home as a child, name, language, even her braids were taken from her. Her fingers were broken for the crime of speaking her language. For years, she was "re-trained in Western ways." When she was able to go back to her people, she couldn't speak with them--she'd forgotten her language. So when people tell her, So I hear you Native Americans got a problem with alcohol," she tells them this story.
Towards the end of her program, Deb invited 2 friends from the UU to play a few songs with her. Deb played Native American flute; Marie on guitar and Nancy on drum. They met at the craft sale in early December. They all had booths in the same area of the lobby. They got to talking and realized they were all musicians, too. During lulls in the day, they would come around and serenade the rest of us vending that day. It was so nice! That was the first time they played together--and I was there!
That craft sale in December was also the first time I met Debra Morningstar--and I now I keep running into her at the UU. She treats me like a sister, always with a warm greeting and a hug. I told her then how much I was looking forward to her storytelling program in Oshkosh. She reminds me of Sandy ... very warm, yet she speaks her truth. No one is going to use her for a door matt. She is strong. She has overcome a lot in her life, and she chooses to focus on the positives. I am looking forward to this friendship blooming.
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