TRIBAL JOURNEYS

October 9, 2002
 
This event was sponsored by:
The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center

Tribal Journeys was a well received event, held November 9th at the Heritage Center at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

Ben and Sue Charles, who are American Indian cultural and historical educators, shared their culture, art and stories with the audience. Charles, an Elwha Klallam Tribe oral historian who lives in Yelm, mesmerized the audience as he danced, sang and told many stories like "The Raven and the Sun". His gifts as an oral historian were apparent as evidenced in the words of Cecilia Nguyen, reporter for The News Tribune in her article American Indians Celebrate Culture:

His voice dropped during the suspenseful moments. He lunged slightly forward during the story's climactic scenes. And his words seemed to soar as he told listeners how the black bird flew into the sky, grasping the sun in his claws.

Many residents of the South Sound gathered to listen intently, laugh and sing with the Charles' while they found a connection to their past.

The audience was enthralled with not only Ben's and Sue's performances, but also with Sue Charles three documentary films created to share the Northwest American Indian traditions: "Tribal Journeys", "Project Kanaka" and "The Continuing Gift of the Cedar Tree".

Some of the children such as 2-year-old Meiko Cubitt of Puyallup were brought to the show to leanr more of their American Indian Heritage. Meiko Cubitt is the son of Arlene Cubitt, an an Eskimo, feels that teaching ethnicity is the first step in teaching respect for others.

Regardless of heritage, all the children were entertained with craft making while learning about an extremely interesting, rich and diverse culture.