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Students hear traditional Native American tales

Hundreds of students in Gowanda were captivated by Native American storyteller Leeora White in December.

GOWANDA — Cattaraugus County resident Leeora White enthralled students at Gowanda Elementary School in December when she visited to share some traditional Native American tales.

Clad in a customary ribbon skirt, White – a 2014 graduate of Salamanca City Central School District – spoke to dozens of Panthers in Kindergarten through fourth grade on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, as she kicks off her storytelling journey via the Seneca National Iroquois Museum’s Artist Employment Program through the Creatives Rebuild New York grant.

Inspired by her grandfather, Duwayne “Duce” Bowen, the author of “One More Story” and “A Few More Stories,” White is working to follow in his footsteps to share “supernatural tales told by Senecas for Senecas” to a wider audiences of all ages.

“I’m hoping to bring oral tradition back to our communities,” says White. “It’s always been a big part of our culture and I want to inspire the next generation to have the courage to share and learn and continue to share these stories.”

Speaking softly and using nothing more than movement and eye contact to draw students’ attention, White spun several tales centered on animals. Stories included “Turtle Races Bear,” ” How a Chipmunk Got its Stripes,” “How Bear Lost its Tail,” and “Turtle Races Beaver.” Each story holds a different lesson such as always ask before you take something, don’t tease people, don’t brag or boast, and how different abilities can help us focus on our own strengths. Her storytelling presentations are tailored for each audience, with the youngest students focusing on nature and older students through senior citizens focusing on the supernatural and some “scarier” themes.

To tie it all together, a hand-drawn bookmark craft accompanied each story. The GES students were invited to complete the project and then use their personalized bookmarks for future reading enjoyment.

“I’m so happy and grateful to be here,” says White. “And all the students were such wonderful listeners. We want our stories to live on, so it is really inspiring to see how engaged they were.”

For more information about Miss White and the efforts of Creatives Rebuild New York, visit GoodMedicineCreatives.com.

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