- In this lesson I say that our capacity for understanding or making meaningfulness from the first stories is seriously limited for numerous reasons and I briefly offer two reasons why this is so: 1) the social process of the telling is disconnected from the story and this creates obvious problems for ascribing meaningfulness, and 2) the extended time of criminal prohibitions against Indigenous peoples telling stories combined with the act of taking all the children between 5 – 15 away from their families and communities. In Wickwire’s introduction to Living Stories, find a third reason why, according to Robinson, our abilities to make meaning from first stories and encounters is so seriously limited. To be complete, your answer should begin with a brief discussion on the two reasons I present and then proceed to introduce and explain your third reason from Wickwire’s introduction.
I will begin my response to this question by discussing the two main reasons why it is beyond our reach to truly understand, appreciate and interpret first stories which we began to explore in this lesson and are outlined in the question.
Reason # 1: the social process of the telling is disconnected from the story and this creates obvious problems for ascribing meaningfulness
This first obstacle illustrates how important it is in storytelling for there to be a connection between the storyteller and the listener in the space where the story is shared and told, which is not possible in the case of first stories since in the present day we are looking at the stories from a distant perspective. As Lutz outlines, “We cannot help but put our own spin on the stories, which have themselves been spun by someone else” (15). As a result of first stories being changed or altered throughout the years, it is difficult to fully ascribe meaningfulness to them since other voices have managed to blur the original voices who told the stories. To be present while someone tells a story that is a part of their history cannot compare to simply reading this story, especially because it has probably been altered over the years.
Reason # 2: the extended time of criminal prohibitions against Indigenous peoples telling stories combined with the act of taking all the children between 5 – 15 away from their families and communities
This time gap when Indigenous peoples were prevented from continuing their storytelling, traditions and children were no longer able to learn about their own history and culture meant that storytelling was severely disrupted. Indigneous peoples did not have the freedom to continue their traditions and many generations did not grow up living within their own culture and with their families. Although Indigenous stories, traditions and voices have continued on with new generations, the missing time had a profound impact on stories being passed on.
Reason # 3:
In Wickwire’s introduction I found a third possible reason Robinson suggested for our inability to fully understand first stories, which is that stories contain so much information, details, symbols and references that they need to be heard and explored many times, which many people may not do. Wickwire states that Harry had “stressed that [his stories] contained hidden messages and connections that would take time to decipher” (21) which illustrates how the complexity of stories is something that cannot be fully appreciated by only hearing or reading them a few times, they have to be constantly analyzed and experienced.
Wickwire also writes: “Harry had expected me to listen to his stories many times before drawing any conclusions,” which I think is a very important point as it is very easy for us to draw conclusions quickly about stories we hear or read at first glance (21). This emphasizes the need for us to appreciate stories on a deeper level, which I think is unfortunately a difficult thing as it requires much time, devotion and engagement. As a result, I see the need to re-explore stories time and time again a significant obstacle for us to make meaning from first stories, as it requires us not to just read a story once and accept it, but to instead give our time, attention, patience and willingness to really engage with the different possible “hidden messages and connections” that storytellers use in their stories.
Works Cited
Lafferty, Catherine. “Northern Wildflower | CBC Books.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 8 Aug. 2018, www.cbc.ca/books/northern-wildflower-1.4761615.
Lutz, John. “Myth Understandings: First Contact, Over and Over Again.” Myth and Memory: Rethinking Stories of Indigenous-European Contact. Vancouver: U of British Columbia P, 2007. 1-15. Print.
Robinson, Harry. Living by Stories: a Journey of Landscape and Memory,edited by Wendy Wickwire, Talonbooks, E book 2013.
Young People’s Theatre. “Tell Me That Story Again: The Indigenous Tradition of Oral Storytelling.” Youtube, 16 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPACZQ21Fgw.
Hi Indra!
This response to Question #2 was really thought provoking for me. As a writer, everything seems to spin itself into a story in my mind, and I find myself over analyzing every story that I read as a result. Even as I look for the meaning in everything, I fear that in some way I will always be missing the point.
Can you give us an example of a story you have re-explored over and over which has obstructed your ability to find meaning in first stories?
Cheers,
Arianne Robbins
Thank you for your comments Arianne!
In response to your question, I think for me I struggle with the opposite, that is I tend not to re-explore the same story often. I too struggle with not wanting to miss out on any hidden meanings or information in a story, which I find happens more if I go back to re-analyze every part of a story so I try to just immerse myself in a story and not overthink things. As a result, I don’t often go back to re-read one story, although I think, as I mentioned in my post, that this is an important part of storytelling. As a result I’m aiming to improve my own reading tendencies so that I can make sure that I have gotten the full meaning of each story I read!
Dear Indra!
I share the same sentiment that the original voices of these First stories have been removed far beyond retrieved once it reaches the ears of wide-spread media. It is expressly astounding that when one reads a story that has explicitly been reprinted with the same words, how easy it can change depending on who reads it, or how one reads it. This is before the fact that the story may have been rewritten in the course of being passed down between readers. For example, “Mary sure loved the beach” can be taken differently depending on how the tone of the sentence is interpreted. Mary may genuinely love going to the beach, or Mary may be saying this sarcastically. I agree with the aspect of hidden meaning in the First stories being only unveiled after many thorough readings. In my first post, I had read the stories of the Turtle people, which was quite challenging to understand, much less decipher hidden meanings. One particular hurdle that I found during my time reading through the Turtle people’s story was the inability to accept the mystical as factual. The notions of spirits and aspect animals being a force of nature aren’t something that is often accepted as canon in Western society. If we look at ancient Eastern culture, on the other hand, we see many instances of stories or myths passed down, such as folklore regarding spirits or guardians protecting the citizens or bringing them good fortune. For example, at the beginning of the new year in Japan, many young adolescences or even adults frequent nearby shrines to pray for a good year. Do you believe that First stories are difficult to accept because of the prominent Western culture that surrounds it? If First stories were told in the context of Japanese folklore, do you think it would be better accepted in the Japanese culture, why or why not?
Cheers!
Aran
Thank you for your interesting questions Aran!
I definitely think that Western culture and what it includes/does not include in its canon plays a significant role in why we are unable to truly appreciate and understand first stories. I think we tend to initially associate what we believe to be factual or true with what we have grown up being surrounded by and taught by our families, teachers and society as a whole. Of course as we grow older and discover other perspectives, our own perceptions may begin to shift and change, but I do think that Western tendencies are a big reason as to why we struggle to understand first stories.
As for your second question, I do think that this concept would perhaps make first stories more accessible or even understandable for other cultures, such as Japanese culture. By telling first stories using techniques used by other cultures, it may help to create a connection or shorten the distance between first stories and people from a variety of places. However, I think that by doing so, the first stories would inevitably be altered and changed which I think makes things more complicated.
Hi Indra!
I think your discussion of stories changing over time was an interesting one! How do you think this impacts oral stories over time? Do they adjust to new societal ideals? Also, how do you think this impacts written literature and creation stories? Do you think the meanings change to readers because of different norms and values than when it was written? Do you think this impacts literature in translation?
Hi Claire,
Thanks for your questions!
I do think that oral stories are highly impacted by societal ideals as I think storytelling is always informed by the way in which society has developed and changed. As a result, oral stories can also develop alongside their storytellers. As for written literature, I absolutely think that the modern day society that readers live in informs their reading of literature from other eras. While written literature may not evolve as much as oral stories, the meanings found within it may be applied to modern themes as I think there can always be a way to connect past stories to modern society. For example, my favourite era of literature is the Victorian era, and while of course society and the world has constantly evolved since then, the themes and stories of Victorian novels are still relevant today and can be connected to modern day issues, even if some aspects are outdated.