Wisdom of the Elders

Series 1, Program 2: The Circle*

Introduction

Elder Wisdom Feature: The Monacans

Barbara Roberts shares the historical background of the Monacan nation, a state-recognized tribe in Virginia. Stories from the tribe's chief, historian and two elders include the 1608 encounter with Captain John Smith as well as their recent recovery of spiritual and cultural identity and a "sense of story".

Health and Healing

Judy Bluehorse Skelton teaches that living life following the four seasons is one of the first steps to creating good health and well-being. She offers a recipe for a "spring detox" and other information on the blessings of the springtime season.

Tribal Rhythms

Nico Wind shares a variety of round dance songs, which are found almost universally among today's tribes. She describes the how dance step is performed and shares differences between the Southern and Northern rhythm styles.

Taheebvu Chadi

Song carrier Judy Trejo sings and tells the origins of Paiute and Shoshone women's work songs which doubled as lullabies. We learn about the women going about their duties with their babies in cradle board strapped on their back, and how they did everything with rhythm, "whether scraping deer hides, antelope hides, or if they sat or kneeling on the ground and grinding meal from dried roots or seeds."

Turtle Island Storytellers

Athabascan Rose High Bear tells the story of Gramma Sophie and her early twentieth century life along the Yukon and Kuskoquim Rivers of Alaska. Part of a traditional Athabascan Raven story is included within the story. "...Now inside her enit sits Raven in the form of a woman and she begins to think, that Raven..."

* Segment transcripts and participant biographies can be found on the Wisdom of the Elders Web site.

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