Week 10 Storytelling: The Voices

In the wilderness of a southern country lived a Native American tribe. They were known for they powers and ability to talk and communicate with the earth and the animals. However, only those with special gifts granted by the spirits were given these abilities. 

One very important tribal elder was named Iagoo. Everyone in the tribe respected and cared very deeply for Iagoo. Every morning Iagoo would be greeted with the smiling faces of the children. 

The children loved and adored Iagoo. They knew he always had the answers to any of their problems and could lean on him for anything. On the morning of the third day, Morning-Sun came by Iagoo's teepee, trembling from head to foot. 

"What's wrong little one," Iagoo asked with concern. 

At first the child was to scared to even acknowledge Iagoo speaking to him. Iagoo could tell something had frightened the child terribly and turned to his secret ingredients. Iagoo always knew how to handle any situation. For this child to reveal his problems, Iagoo needed to fix a special tea to soothe his fears. Slowly the child drank the tea, and once he had drank half he began to speak. 

"Each night I enter my bed to sleep I am exhausted. I have done the chores my parents have asked me to do and I've played with the other children. By night time, I'm ready to sleep," Morning-Sun said quietly. 

Morning-Sun peered at Iagoo over his tea. He waited patiently for the child to continue. 

"Every night I am asleep for several hours and then I wake up because of the voices. At first I think I am just dreaming and making the voices up, but then I realize I am actually awake. The faint glow of the early morning on the horizon."

"The voices are always soft and very hard to hear. I listen intently trying to understand where they are coming from, but after a month I still don't know. It frightens me so because nobody else can hear them." 

Iagoo let this information sink in as he tried to think of a way to help Morning-Sun. "Tonight you will go to bed as you normally do. I shall appear at your teepee as the sun is climbing into the sky over the horizon. Do not fear little one. All shall reveal itself," Iagoo said.

Iagoo understood exactly what the child was hearing. 

That night Iagoo visited Morning-Sun. As the child began to stir he went over to where he slept. Morning-Sun turned to Iagoo with tears in his eyes. 

"Do not be frightened little one. Come with me," Iagoo said calmly. 

The two stepped out into the morning air and looked around. Outside the teepee were the animals of the land. Realization dawned on Morning-Sun. He had been given a beautiful gift from the spirits. 

Animal in nature

Source: Pexel

Author's Note: I chose to base my story loosely off of the story of Iagoo, the Storyteller. Iagoo is a very wise man among his people and the children love to listen to his stories. Through his stories he teaches the children about having courage and being brave; also, he teaches them values and what it means to be human. 

Bibliography: I chose this story from Iagoo, the Storyteller by W.T. Larned.

Week 10 Reading Diary continued: American Indian Fairy Tales

The Boy who Snared the Sun

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

The stories each have a beautiful scene to set the tone of the story. The landscape is described in the beginning scenes giving the reader a great visual and displaying the character's surroundings. 

When Iagoo speaks with the children in the teepee, he lets his conversations with them lead him into his stories. When the mouse appears in the corner of his teepee he begins his story about the history of the mouse. He is able to change their way of thinking and their previous misconceptions on different animals and scenarios. 

The children in the story were self-sufficient. To survive they had to learn new skills like the brother learning to shoot a bow and arrow so he could use the birds skin as a coat. 

Again, Iagoo gives the animals and nature human characteristics. It shapes the style of the entire story  and makes it vivid. It gives it more flavors for the overall recipe of the story.  

Mastoden towering over the people by John Rae (1921)

(Source: Blogspot)

Week 10 Reading Diary: American Indian

Iagoo, the Storyteller

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

Iagoo was one of the great American Indian storytellers. He knew about everything including the land and animals that occupied it. It was the stories that gained the children's hearts and smiles. Iagoo could explain the ways of the animals which was an extremely rare talent. He showered the children with gifts that he made. 

Everything has human characteristics. It gives the stories life and sets them apart from the norm. Iagoo used his stories to teach the children life lessons. 

Image sharing his stories

(Source: Blogspot)

Shin-ge-bis Fools the North Wind

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

In this storytelling, the North Wind is very powerful. He has a reputation that intimidates the men of the land. The North Wind again takes on human characteristics and believes he cannot be beat. Shin-Be-Bis believes differently.