Ꚛ How Long Stalk Became a Flower Storybook components

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7 Components complete Interactive the Storytelling Experience 

Pre-Introduction

Introduction

Story

Sharing/Talking Circle

Closing Circle 

Give-Away

Picture with Long Stalk

Ꚛ The Interactive Storytelling Experience:

Pre-Introduction (approx. 20 min) Children remove their shoes and put on slippers of various rainbow colors. They crawl through a cedar tree tunnel into the story-time space. They choose a regalia cape and head band, gather a rock cushion to sit on throughout the story-time. They find a place to sit on the blankets.

Children sit on five distinct blankets decorated with symbols of a Turtle, the Four Directions Circle, the Planet Earth;, one with four children (representing the Four Colors of the Four Tribe Nations of the World), and one blanket with a Tree, Rock and Sparrow Hawk (the sparrow hawk represents Kele Village; Kele is the Hopi name for 'sparrow hawk).  

Introduction (approx. 20 min) I introduce myself in the matrilineal way and describe through a short color book, how I came to write a story about a Spirit Warrior, who became a Sunflower Seed and then found his way to the East End of Vancouver. I will show pictures of the Grand Canyon region, the place of the Hopi People's Emergence and the home of the Havasupai People. The Hopi people live in the region of the Four Corners. With permission, I will present a traditional smudge (sage/sweetgrass/cedar burned in an abalone shell) in recognition of the seven sacred directions. And offer tobacco to our Ancestors and the ground we are all sitting on.

The Story (approx. 20 min) I introduce the Long Stalk character as a Spirit Rainbow Warrior. A Rainbow Warrior is someone who believes in Peace. A Rainbow Warrior follows the Path of Heart. The Path of Heart begins when we believe in ourselves and our Dreams. A Rainbow Warrior walking the Path of Heart never engages in war, hate, or destruction.  A rainbow Warrior dedicates themselves to the protection of all children from harm and corruption.

The Story will engage children as they listen to the narrative and are included in the  

storyline when Moon and the Great Spirit Guardian of the Rainbow Flower Kingdom call the children to Mother’s Garden and ask them if they will Long Stalk's friend. The children call back “Yes,” becoming a part of the story when they agree to be Long Stalk’s friend.

Between the Story and Sharing Circle: this is a good place to take a break. Children can take a 15-30 min recess or lunch break to allow them to stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and return to play in the Storytelling world. 

Playing in the Storytelling World (approx. 30 min.) gives children the magical playtime to discover and experience the World of Long Stalk and his friends. Crawl through the tunnel, take animal characters from the Christmas tree props etc. The children can choose a cuddly stuffed animal to hold during the Sharing and Talking Circle.

The Sharing/Talking Circle (approx. 1 hour) Everyone will gather and sit in a circle. The Sharing/Talking Circle is an Interactive Show and Tell experience. Children will get to hold the various indigenous artifacts and show and tell items. The purpose of the Sharing and Talking Circle is to introduce Indigenous culture and art; to empower children to understand all life, nature, people, animals, even rocks, have their own special story, their own unique quality and history. The first item I introduce is the Talking Stick and the purpose of the Talking Stick, is to teach us the respect of listening as we take turns to talk without interruption. I keep the Talking Stick with me as I present the collection of Indigenous artifacts. After the Show and Tell, I reintroduce the Talking Stick. There is a challenge given here to have the children see and feel first.

The Talking Stick welcomes children to ask questions, share their own personal story and feelings, or pass the stick. The Talking Stick teaches the art of patience, listening, waiting for your turn, and respect. I will help the children to understand that both speaking and being silent are qualities our Indigenous cultures embrace; that to share our stories are gifts of knowledge and understanding we give to each other; but also, to be silent allows us to observe and learn from our hearts. Thereby, children will be empowered to share a story and feel welcomed to speak, or feel good about their decision to be silent. I will then pass the talking stick to the circle of children. One by one the Talking Stick is passed from each child to the next around the circle.

The Closing Circle (approx. 10 min) The children, teacher or teachers and I gather in a circle. I complete the storytelling experience by letting the children know they each have a special gift to share with the World; that they are a part of the 'Whirling Rainbow Dream of Peace for Turtle Island and the World; and that as adults, it is our responsibility to help them all grow strong and beautiful just the way they already are; knowing we all belong and are one  family upon our sacred Mother Earth. Then to remember…

Dreams have the Power to change the negative into the positive. (sad into happy).

Dreams build imagination and creativity.

Through dreams and imagination, we discover who we are and want to be 

Dreams come true when we believe in ourselves and each other.

The Give-Away (set-up 5 min) The Give-Away custom of all Indigenous Traditions of Turtle Island expresses a foundation that ensures survival. ‘To give and to share’ sustains all life. The Give-Away friendship gift will have 4 baskets set up that will hold light and dark blue glass beads and hemp string in various rainbow colors. Each Child will receive a friendship bracelet and packet of sunflower seeds. The children will choose a light and dark blue glass bead, and light and dark blue hemp cord to create a friendship bracelet to represent the Rainbow Tribe of Friendship. The blue beads and hemp cord are connected to the archetypal character Father Sky making the raindrops light blue and dark blue and  cherishing all girls and boys

The Blue Glass beads represent the light and dark blue raindrops of Father Sky and the equality of all children of the Four Tribe Colors of the World. The blue glass beads were also a favorite trading item of the Indigenous people, of which they traded their goods for the blue glass beads with Russian traders starting around 1700s and from the times of first contact. Blue Russian Beads likely originated in Czechoslovakia. The history of glass beads reaches as far back as 40,000 years and it is this history I will focus on with the children. (See downloads to print The History on Trade Beads by O. Ned Eddins.)

The Sunflower Seeds represent the power of the Sun and Life in "How Long Stalk Became a Flower' story. The Children will also receive a little bundle of sunflower seeds to give away to the Earth, Wind, Water, Animals or try to grow into a sunflower for themselves, depending on the time of year the Storytime presentation occurs. This small token of friendship is meant to connect myself, the children, the teachers and parents  into the Circle of Peace and Friendship and the world of Long Stalk.

The Picture with Long Stalk completes the Interactive Storytelling Experience. With permission the children and class can have their picture taken with a 6 Foot tall Long Stalk on canvas. One Long Stalk will be painted in Day colors, the second in Night colors.