Tell me the tales
That to me were so dear
Long, long ago
Long, long ago.

-Thomas Haynes Bayly

What is it about us wanting to hear stories from the past? I believe its a sense of connection, getting to our roots, a sense of belonging. Hearing these stories shows how alike we all are in spirit. They can connect us to our past in the form of art, photos, writing, quilting, verbally and through songs.

Recently I watched Dreamkeepers, a film that won the best film award at the 28th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, in November, so I knew it had to be good.

This movie is about “Shane Chasing Horse, a tall, long-haired Native American teenager and his elderly grandfather Pete Chasing Horse. It takes place in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Shane’s mother strongly suggests that he take his grandfather to the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the elder is to tell stories. He is the “Dreamkeeper.” Shane reluctantly agrees to drive his grandfather 600 miles in an old, beat-up 66 Ford pickup. Grandfather’s old horse is loaded in a trailer and away they go.

During the trip, grandfather fills his grandson’s ears with stories passed down from generation to generation. Though his heritage hadn’t meant anything to him, Shane finds himself drawn into their magical and timeless messages. They become alive to him.

The truck breaks down. Shane and his grandfather have to rely on the horse. Grandfather rides, his drum hanging at his side. Shane walks alongside. The richness of their people come alive as grandfather shares more folklore. He asks Shane if he will carry on the tradition of storytelling after he is gone. Shane doesn’t seem to show any interest and, in fact, seems annoyed.

At one point on their long journey, they take a turn in the road. A man emerges from a small trailer and Shane recognizes his estranged father. Shane feels tricked by grandfather. He is angry and walks away. After a silent dinner at fireside, Grandfather goes inside for the night telling Shane to sleep out under the stars with his father. Shane’s father looks up at the stars and begins to share a story that had been told many years ago. Feeling the beginnings of reconciliation, they fall asleep under the stars.

In the morning, Shane takes a cup of coffee to his grandfather before they travel on. He walks into the trailer and realizes that, during the night grandfather has died. He is grief stricken for the loss of his grandfather and all the stories that were still within him. He decides he must carry on in the tradition of his grandfather. Shane’s father tells him to go on to the Gathering, and that he and grandfather will be at home waiting for his return.

Shane rides away on his grandfather’s horse, the drum strapped to his side. He hears grandfather’s voice echoing in his head “Who will carry the dream?”

The final scene shows Shane at the Gathering where thousands of Indians are gathered. He is leaning against a huge tree. Little children gather around him as he begins to softly drum and tell the stories his grandfather had shared with him.

He is now the “Dreamkeeper.”

***

Remember when you said “Tell me a story”?

I recall as a little girl how all of us kids would gather around Mom and Dad. We were always asking them questions about what was it like when they were little children. We couldn’t get enough as they both related their experiences to us. Then at times when my Dad would begin singing to us, we would climb up on his knee and join in. His Irish songs filled the house with joy and happiness and have become happy memories for me, my brother and sisters. Mom and Dad loved sharing their stories about their Mama, Papa, their grandmas, grandpas and all the relatives; how they lived back then.

***

I saw an interesting segment on TV recently about the people of Gee’s Bend, a town almost completely surrounded by the Alabama River. There are only 750 residents. The story was about the distinctive quilts made by many generations of local artisans, combining the influences of African American, Native American and European designs. The quilts have been photographed and are in two books.

Three women, the oldest now 85 and loosing her sight, talked of how quilts had been made out of necessity. These were impoverished people in the early 1900s. Life was hard, no electricity or running water. Mules, plows and log homes were all they had, yet they were proud of their accomplishments. The tradition of quiltmaking in Gee’s Bend is one that has been passed down from mother to daughter since the early 19th century.

Using bright colors and vividly patterned fabrics from old clothes or other cast-off fabrics they created the look and texture of these handwoven quilts. They told of how they would gather around the huge quilting frame to joyfully sing spiritual songs and share their lives. Only recently has the world outside this tiny community discovered these woven treasures. Today, Gee’s Bend remains one of the most economically disadvantaged places in the United States. It has few remaining residents, yet they continue to be a remarkably close-knit and resilient people whose sense of place, purpose and identity has endured every setback.

***

Like the Dreamkeeper and the quilters of Gee’s Bend, we each have a story to tell, things we’ve heard from our relatives that reach way back into our ancestory. Shane’s grandfather said “Stories must be told the same way or they lose their power, I will tell you as it was told by my ancestors.” Perhaps that power is what gives us a sense of connection and belonging. It is how we can learn about ourselves and others.

Theresa and Gary, my two children, have heard their grandma and grandpa’s stories many times. I continue to pass my stories down to them and their children. We all have a story, memories to share. Don’t die with your stories still in you.

Gerri is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She would love to hear from you. If you have any comments or stories to share with her e-mail her at gerri@phenomenews.com