Session 3

1. Session 3

1.6. Inquiry 3

CCS3140 Sesson 3

Session 3: Understanding Aboriginal Children and Their Families

Inquiry 3: Storytelling

This computer illustration shows an Aboriginal woman with many small children sitting close to her as she tells a story.

Imagine the richness of a culture that used stories not only to entertain but also to teach. In this culture, stories could bridge the gap between generations and transport young people to a place they might never experience for themselves, just as television and movies do for many people today.

Reflection: Families and cultures all have their own stories. What stories are important in your family? What do these stories tell about your family and your cultural background?

For many Aboriginal peoples, the importance of listening to a story was to learn about the culture and history being passed on by the storyteller. If the story was about something particularly important to the cultural identity of the collective group (for example, the Coast Salish story of creation), the storyteller would often have to learn the story word-for-word as it had been passed down through the generations. If the storyteller did not learn the story exactly as it had been passed down, the storyteller was not permitted to become an official storyteller of the tribe. The very cultural identity of the people demanded exact recollection of such teachings.

This photograph shows a young boy wearing headphones and listening intently.

Often, stories that came from life experiences were a little more flexible and might have been told by any member of the group during a social gathering. Not every story centred on past events; some, such as prophecy, told of times yet to come and of the signs to watch for.

With the implementation of residential schools and the Indian Act, which at one time forbade cultural ceremonies and teachings, Aboriginal people today struggle to maintain what is left of their culture. Elders are passing away without sharing their stories with the ones carrying on the sacred teachings and cultural identities for future generations.