THE PARABOLA STORYTIME SERIES ®
The Parabola Storytime Series ®
DISTRIBUTED BY HARPERCHILDREN’S AUDIO A DIVISION OF HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS
The Parabola Storytime series is a collection of stories and myths by leading storytellers from various Native American nations on Turtle Island. Originally produced as audio cassettes in the 1990s by Parabola magazine, these stories evoke the beauty, wisdom, and living spirit of surviving oral traditions. The entire series was broadcast on American Indian Radio on Satellite (AIROS) in 1994.
“Not only does the Storytime Series preserve the voices of elders and tradition-bearers who might not otherwise be heard so widely, it also links us to generations yet to come in a way which no other audio project has ever done before.” Joe Bruchac
The Boy Who Lived with the Bears
JOE BRUCHAC, of Abenaki ancestry, gives us this spirited recording featuring the many adventures and misadventures of Rabbit, Buzzard, Turtle, and Bear from the Iroquois tradition. WINNER 1991 Benjamin Franklin awards for Best Audio.
Contents: Rabbit and Fox, The Boy Who Lived with the Bears, How the Birds Got Their Feathers, Turtle Makes War on Man, Chipmunk and Bear, Rabbit’s Snow Dance. Running time: approximately one hour. All rights reserved.
The Boy Who Lived with the Bears, ISBN: 1-55994-541-9
Coyote and Rock
The Lushootseed people celebrated the art of storytelling long before they had a written language. This oral tradition is again passed on to listeners of all ages by the late elder of the Upper Skagit Tribe of Washington State, storyteller VI HILBERT. With captivating style, she re-creates the stories of her ancestors, the first people of Puget Sound.
Contents: Lady Louse Cleans House, Lifting the Sky, Bear and Fishhawk, Boil and Hammer, Coyote and Rock, Owl and His Wife, Frog, Mud Swallow’s House, Little Raccoon (told by Rebecca Chamberlain), Skunk’s Important Information. Running time: approximately one hour. Unabridged with music. All rights reserved.
Coyote and Rock and Other Lushootseed Stories, ISBN: 1-55994-539-7
How Rabbit Tricked Otter
Acclaimed storyteller, GAYLE ROSS, direct descendant of John Ross, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation during the infamous “Trail of Tears”, shares her nation’s oral tradition by passing on the tales of Bear, Possum, Otter, and the trickster-hero Rabbit. Stories are accompanied by traditional flute music.
Contents: Flint Visits Rabbit, How Rabbit Tricked Otter, How Deer Won His Antlers, Why Deer’s Teeth Are Blunt, Why Possum’s Tail is Bare, The Origin of the Bear, The Hunter and the Bear, Bear Dines with Rabbit, How Turtle’s Back Was Cracked. Running time: approximately one hour. All rights reserved.
How Rabbit Tricked Otter and Other Cherokee Animal Stories, ISBN: 1-55994-542-7
The First Dog
RON EVANS of Chippewa-Cree and Assiniboin Indian descent was raised in isolated and highly traditional tribal communities. He is known as the “keeper of the talking sticks,” the one responsible for learning and preserving the oral traditions of the tribe. The stories he tells come from this timeless tradition, and he shares them with warmth and simplicity appealing to listeners of all ages. They are recorded here for the first time.
Contents: The First Dog, Round-as-a-Ball Boy, The First Chickadees, The Girl Who Loved Colors. Running time: 60 minutes. Original audio All rights reserved.
The First Dog and Other Chippewa-Cree Stories, ISBN: 1-55994-586-9
Inktomi and the Ducks
Here RON EVANS shares stories about Inktomi, selfish bumbler and troublemaker and one of the liveliest characters in Assiniboin mythology. Inktomi’s unlikely and humorous approaches to relationships, telling the truth, and problem-solving serve as a sort of reverse psychology, teaching proper behavior “from the back door.” The children know the stories are finished for the night when the storyteller pauses and says “That’s what Inktomi did that day.”
Contents: Inktomi Eats Shadowfish Soup, Inktomi the Grass-Dancer, Inktomi and the Ducks, Inktomi Tries Beaver’s Fur Coat Magic, Inktomi Finds New Eyeballs, Inktomi Helps Mouse. Running time: approximately one hour. All rights reserved.
Inktomi and the Ducks and Other Assiniboin Trickster Stories, (an additional storytape produced by Parabola magazine.) ISBN: 0-930407-33-4
Sacred Twins and Spider Woman
The eldest of nine brothers and sisters, GERI KEAMS was born and raised in the Painted Desert of the Navajo Nation. She was greatly influenced by her grandmother, who was a storyteller and rug weaver. It is essential for humans to return to the world of balance and harmony, or as the Navajos would put it, “Hozhoji” – “the beauty way.” With these unique Navajo creation stories, Geri Keams brings us into the circle and introduces “the beauty way” to all of us.
Contents: Creation of First Man, First Woman, Hunter Boy Meets Rabbit Man, Sacred Twins and Spider Woman, Coyote Brings Fire, Snail Carries Water. Running time: one hour. With drums and song. All rights reserved.
Sacred Twins and Spider Woman and Other Navajo Creation Stories, ISBN: 1-55994-678-4
The Flood
A Lakota of the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, KEVIN LOCKE tells the stories that reflect the values, belief systems, and social structure of his ancient heritage. In addition to his extraordinary storytelling skills, the inspired sounds of his flute playing, as well as the spoken Lakota language, can be heard throughout this recording.
Contents: The Flood, The Seventh Direction, The Boy Who Brought the Colors, The Seventh Generation, The Snake, White Plume Boy, Iktomi and Iya the Devourer. Running time: 60 minutes. Original audio with music. All rights reserved.
The Flood and Other Lakota Stories, ISBN: 1-55994-677-6
