Embark on a mystical journey cloaked in the wintry embrace of Native American folklore as we unwrap the sacred art of storytelling. Let the chilling air carry you to a world where each narrative shared is a thread woven into the fabric of history, preserving ancient wisdom and ancestral voices. In the hush of winter's calm, we uncover the enigmatic tales of the little people and a hunter—a tradition steeped in the belief that stories, like nature, have their season. "Tales of the Little People" serves as our guide, illuminating a path of reverence for these time-honored fables while navigating the nuances of language to resonate with the heartbeat of today. Prepare to connect with a lineage of knowledge as we honor the vital role these stories play in bridging past and present, all within the sacred timing tradition cherishes.
As we gather around the flickering firelight of history, we confront the shadows cast by European colonization upon the tapestry of indigenous folklore. Through the distortion and vilification of native myths and guardians, we trace the profound transformation of spirits once revered, now remodeled by the scars of cultural erasure. Our discussion reflects on the mirrored image of society in the tales of mythical 'little people' and the heavy mantle we bear to safeguard the continuity of these narratives. Together, we commit to the preservation of this rich heritage, ensuring that the essence of these traditions not only endures but flourishes in the chronicles we pass on to the generations that will follow.
Embark on a mystical journey cloaked in the wintry embrace of Native American folklore as we unwrap the sacred art of storytelling. Let the chilling air carry you to a world where each narrative shared is a thread woven into the fabric of history, preserving ancient wisdom and ancestral voices. In the hush of winter's calm, we uncover the enigmatic tales of the little people and a hunter—a tradition steeped in the belief that stories, like nature, have their season. "Tales of the Little People" serves as our guide, illuminating a path of reverence for these time-honored fables while navigating the nuances of language to resonate with the heartbeat of today. Prepare to connect with a lineage of knowledge as we honor the vital role these stories play in bridging past and present, all within the sacred timing tradition cherishes.
As we gather around the flickering firelight of history, we confront the shadows cast by European colonization upon the tapestry of indigenous folklore. Through the distortion and vilification of native myths and guardians, we trace the profound transformation of spirits once revered, now remodeled by the scars of cultural erasure. Our discussion reflects on the mirrored image of society in the tales of mythical 'little people' and the heavy mantle we bear to safeguard the continuity of these narratives. Together, we commit to the preservation of this rich heritage, ensuring that the essence of these traditions not only endures but flourishes in the chronicles we pass on to the generations that will follow.
There once was one of the little people living in a little cave near him, doled a hunter in a weightwomb. The little man sent to him and made him visit him. The hunter went accordingly and saw many wonderful things the little people themselves in great numbers, and the corn and huckleberries and other berries which they had plenty to eat. And the little man said this is our home and all we have is given to us for free, and although I am small, I am stronger than you. Then he showed him the games and the bows and arrows and dances, even the war dances. And the hunter said when he had seen it all, let me go. But the little man said stay. Do you know my name? I am called Go-Gah-Ah. Little fellow, I had my choice and name. I will let you out when I have told you our mission. We are to help you and we have never injured you. But now we are going to move away from here. We are going where there is more danger from the giant animals that we may help those who need our aid. Then, having finished his speech, he opened the door and let the hunter go on his way.
Speaker 1:
Storytelling time this is. This is something the old-time natives say that long, long ago the little people made a law that stories must not be told in summer. Summer is the time for work. Bees must store their honey, squirrels must gather their nuts, men must grow their corn trees and plants must leaf and flower and bear their fruit. If stories were told, plants, birds, animals and men would stop the work to listen. This would mean poor crops and hungry people. Animals would forget to grow their winter coats and lay by their winter stores. Birds would fail to start in time for the south.
Speaker 1:
The old natives say the storyteller who disobeys this law of joe ga'o will suffer some misfortune. Winter is the time to tell the stories, for then the work of animals, plants and men is done and the little peoples are fast asleep. No, it's not safe to tell stories in summer. No one knows when a bird or bee or a butterfly may be listening and may tell the chief of the little people. Should the chief of the little people be offended, he might cause something dreadful to happen to the storyteller. Last summer the writer of these stories came very near to being changed into an animal or something worse, just for telling stories. So an old native said. She does not know how she escaped. She thinks it must have been because she was a white native. This is how it happened. It was at the time of the harvest moon.
Speaker 1:
Yes and no. Wes spoke for one of the tribes at their cancel house and she told some of these wonder stories. All went well until the middle of the night. Then a very old native came to warn her of their danger. It seems that he had been at the council and evening and heard the stories told, many of which he knew. He told yes and no Wes. He had expected to see her changing to something else right then. And there he said he would not dare to tell a story. No, no, me afraid evil come, he said. Then he wanted to know if yes and no Wes was a real native.
Speaker 1:
He had been told that she was a white native. When he heard her tell the stories, he said he thought she was a real native. When Yen said no, wes told him she had not a drop of native blood running in her veins. He looked very solemn, elast. He spoke.
Speaker 1:
He told the interpreter to tell her for he spoke with a few words of English that the great spirit made a snake a snake, a fox, a fox, a muskrat, a muskrat, a coon, a coon, a bear, a bear, and a native, a native, a white native, a white native. Each must be snake, fox, coon bear, native or white native, as long as he lived, each must be himself. Then the old man asked what disease, yes and no Wes had that made her go around with a feather in her hair, acting like a real native yes, she were a white native. Yes and no Wes had no answer, and she does not know to this day but saved her from being changed into a rabbit that Catty did, or something worse, the chief of the little people. She knows, however, that she is very glad she is telling the stories to you in the wintertime, just like us at I Tell Stories.
Speaker 3:
Ahoy hoi.
Speaker 1:
Hey, all right. So, my friend, what did you think of the winter story time tale I just told?
Speaker 3:
Oh, that was great. Yeah, more little people. What did it say? What time? That was the told the winter stories.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, a lot of it seems to come from like Algonquin style the language anyway and then it's a compilation. It's from a book that I have and you can hear the pages right now, all right, so it's not very big, but it's called Tales of the Little People and it's a compilation. It was put out in, I think, 1914, and it's eight Native American legends of elves, dwarves and fairies, compiled by the American Folklore Foundation.
Speaker 3:
Oh cool.
Speaker 2:
Yeah so like not, it's a good organization.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it's fantastic. You know, the only thing I did change up in that story actually was it's just, you know, because times change and, as I said, this book was put out, you know, over 100 years ago now. So, like I just you know, there's times when they use the term Indian and I just switched it for Native. Then that was simply it and I and who knows like to an extent whether that you know who participated in making this book. But I did double check a lot of this stuff and I love it. So I think that it's pretty cool how you know they talk about, how you know, during the summer, you should be working, you should be out there doing things. You shouldn't be telling stories and wasting your time, right?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I mean, I just put work in all the time.
Speaker 1:
Yes, well, also, things have changed over time. But I think, yeah, exactly, but it's a great like folklore is always meant to teach, right? You know it's. It may be kind of scary or just whatever, but the whole point of it is is that you know people should be helping their community during the times when they can, and back when, before you know, food was mass produced, everybody had to pitch in. So that's a thing, right.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, and it's also important for reminding future generations of where what their ancestors went through, and yeah you know, now everybody just gets door dash on their smartphone or whatever. Yeah, it was not always the case. Well, not everybody that would not. It's ridiculous, but yeah nonetheless. But yeah, like what did I pay extra so I don't have to place an order? Basically, on the phone I don't get it. I'm old, I hate everything, but I'm saying and right with children, right.
Speaker 1:
I don't think that the little people would be fond of door dash either. I think they would. You know, go find an elk if it's hard out and eat it. That's what they do, stuff like that. Yeah, sounds like it's better. Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1:
And you know, this isn't like meant to be a full episode people. It was just kind of setting up because, you know, we're in the new year or almost anyway, new Year's Eve's coming up. Hopefully this is out before. If not, then you just catch it wouldn't have a right.
Speaker 1:
And then we've been doing a lot of stuff this year. We're gonna kind of come with, you know, our best of, but instead of like putting a comp together or something, we're just gonna talk about some of the stuff we learned. And I even like thought maybe I 'd point out some of the things that I realized I got wrong throughout, because I don't want to take down our old episode just because I may have like misspoke or whatever. Whatever is going on, and then that way I can touch back on it and be like hey, look what I learned. I realized that, hey, this was like kind of different than I thought initially, because I think everybody that listens to us should be on the same journey, my friend, as we learn right? Yeah, for sure that sounded super hokey, but I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1:
I am very grateful for all our listeners. Actually, too, when I look at our stats, it amazes me how many people different individuals from around the world listen to me and Owen talk. That's pretty badass. I think you know some interesting crackers over here and we've touched on so many subjects. I mean, really we go from like folklore religion, just random murder, I guess with a parrot. You know, I don't want to get too deep into this because this is gonna be coming up in another episode, guys, but I just wanted to like share that with everybody and let everybody know that I appreciate them listening to us. What do you think, owen?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, absolutely. Much love to each and all of you. Yeah, from Serbia to San Diego.
Speaker 1:
Right, ooh, and we got some Kenya and all them things, you know, all sorts of folks.
Speaker 3:
Oh, that's right, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you know, this is like I said. It's going to be a short one or whatever, because we're just it's kind of like a thank you thing too as well. Geez, look at us, we're getting all emotional. It's crazy Anyway.
Speaker 3:
But yeah, this is a good one. I just the only thing I really use social media for is to look at super high end glass that most of it's above my pay grade, but Hedy Hawaii, which is an awesome company If you're ever looking for a company with store. But they posted and it says it's called 93% stardust, after Carl Sagan, who gave me hope as a child. We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins, carbon in our souls and nitrogen in our brains 93% stardust, with souls made of flames. We're all just stars. Have people names, the key to guilt.
Speaker 1:
Damn, I love that this is deep shit.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, dude, that's badass. I never heard that before. Look at us, go, I tell stories. It's winter time, we're telling stories. I'm going to I don't know. Like I said, let's just make this brief, quick thing. I have something else I wanted to read for you. I was surprising you, but you surprised me because that was fantastic. So but I do want to end how this book kind of ends, because I thought what was read or what was written here is fantastic. And it's by Jackson F Turner, the second, you know I don't know if it's a James bottom tooth fellow, I did not look into this guy, but I like what he said.
Speaker 1:
The European influence. As we stand at the beginning of this new experiment in society, we off forget those who cleared the way before us in many unspeakable ways, how we cast aside and demolished in the most horrible of manners those peaceable folk who once tended the ground we desire. To think that the little people have abandoned us due to our transgressions is not a curious thought, but a very real one indeed. We have destroyed that which is beautiful in the hopes of creating something which hopefully one day will be as beautiful. We have warped guided spirits into devils, illuminating sprites into demons and playful helpers into destructive imps. Perhaps we have not destroyed the little people in our folly quest of playing at God. We may have just converted them into the image of ourselves. This is perhaps is why they may seem so terrible.
Speaker 1:
Whoa, yeah, and it is yeah. I don't know if I want to leave everybody on that note, but I think everybody should think about that, because it's not just really a shot at like, maybe how Europeans perverted folklore of these indigenous folks, because we do kind of make some of these things into scary, like you know, the dear lady or all these things, when in all honesty they were, you know. Or like the Thunderbird, like I'm sure, like there were stories of the Thunderbird that scared the shit out of some European folks, right, but to the natives it was not that way. Anyway, on that note, I hope everybody has a good day and we'll be back soon with some stories for this winter.
Speaker 3:
Happy New Year, Much love everybody.
Speaker 2:
I come and I want to share some stories with you, so that these stories will never die. These stories are going to be yours, your responsibility to carry on for the next generation. Someday when your parents, when you are grandparents, you're going to be ensured that your grandchildren, your children, know these stories.