The Importance of Storytelling

Storytelling not only preserves Chickasaw history – it unites the Chickasaw people through their common ancestry. The tradition of storytelling connects the Chickasaws of the past with modern-day members of the tribe.

9 Items

Storytelling

S2 • E10
Chickasaw storyteller Lorie Carmichael describes the importance of passing traditions down through generations.

Growing Up Enthralled with Chickasaw Stories

Stephanie Scott
Storyteller Stephanie Scott recalls how central the stories told by her grandmother were to her childhood.

Storytelling to Overcome Stereotypes

Lisa Billy
Lisa Billy recollects unsettling memories of childhood stereotypes she and other Native American children endured in school.

My Children Will Carry on These Stories

Lisa Billy
Lisa describes how gratifying it is to see her children now tell the stories in school.

The Power of Oral Histories

Joshua Hinson
Josh Hinson describes the power of hearing oral histories directly from Chickasaw elders.

Thanksgiving: Storytelling from a Native Perspective

Lisa Billy
Thanksgiving, while celebrated as an American holiday, can be attributed to the accepting Indian tribes who welcomed the pilgrims to their land.

The Importance of Storytelling

Lisa Billy
Lisa Billy received a history lesson that, to her, became a testament to the perseverance and grit of those who came before her.

At the Chickasaw Cultural Center: Storytelling Educates

Experience Chickasaw History and Culture
Chickasaw storytellers hold their audiences in the palm of their hands, skillfully weaving their tale, transporting us to another time.

How Storytelling Changes Attitudes

Lisa Billy
Lisa illustrates how storytelling truly alters the way children and teachers have responded to hearing American history from a native perspective.