September Stories at Fern Review

Our warm host on Monday evening, September 19, 2011 was Anne Forester. Margo McLaughlin provided gentle music on her Hang drum between stories.

Jacquie Hunt led off with a Spanish story told in the first person so effectively that we felt transported to Madrid, where it took place, to witness, with her, the distress of the gentleman she observed daily with no overcoat in the cold of winter. Her concern for this man, a widower whose wife had taken his coat to the cleaners before she died, and the solution she found for him by raiding her own husband's closet, touched this listener's heart.

Anne Beatty titled her story "Changes and Beginnings - "The PalmTree" a Stuart McLean story about 'bonding' with an unlikely object, a palm tree found in a corner store that was not only instrumental in effecting the sale of a home in the nick of time to enable the purchase of the perfect new home that its owner had always dreamed of, but became deeply rooted in that owner's affection.

Lavana Kilborn took us on a timelss journey, the musings of an aging farmer as to whether events that befell his acquaintances were Good or Bad, depending on their timing, circumstance and eventual outcome. One of those well-travelled, borderless stories to be found world-wide.

"Just Deserts", (yes this spelling is correct) Andrea Samuels' story of a vengeful school principal who forced a young pupil to eat a whole chocolate cake in front of his peers as punishment for a minor misdeed had, I suspect, most of her listeners feeling uncomfortably full themselves ! Told with great humour, we cheered inwardly along with the schoolboys' who witnessed the happening and were glad of the pause before ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jennifer Ferris' hilarious telling of another cake story: "The Wedding Cake." A cautionary tale if ever there was one, with the moral that ordering a cake for a special event must always take place in person. Ordering over the phone can have dire consequences indeed!

After all that 'storycake', lo and behold, the teabreak was a veritable banquet, including Patricia's seasonal plumcake made from scratch which, together with Sandra's delicacies, kept us lingering, disobediently, in the kitchen after the call to return for more stories.

The first, related by Lee Porteous, once again had us spellbound, this time learning of the merits of the "Electricity Elixir," a cure for every ailment that could afflict the gullible folk in Chuck Larkin's story of that name. If, as is asserted, laughter is good medicine, then this story delivered us all a good dose!

A change of pace then with Catherine Sheehan's Korean Folk Tale of "The Story Spirits", another cautionary tale, this time telling us the terrors that can befall those who hoard stories instead of sending them out into the world for others to share.

Last,but by no means least, Mary Mahoney brought us "The Maiden Without Hands" collected by the Brothers Grimm in the days when reality, and stories of those times were indeed grim and often gruesome. Featured were all the ingredients of an old-fashioned fairy tale: the devil himself, the promise of gold in exchange for a poor miller's daughter, trust in the kindness of strangers, loss of limbs and their restoration. A theme with many variants brought into the present by no less a writer than Margaret Atwood according to our mutual friend Google !

submitted by Janna

VSG ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC Sunday August 7, 2011

The countdown is on towards the VSG annual summer picnic for Guild members and their guests.

WHERE? The home of Andrea and Richard, 3910 Finnerty Road (We’re about 150 yards from UVIC. (250 294 5790) WHEN? August 7, Sunday, from 3-7pm.
ROUGH PLAN: 3-4 PM: Relax and chat in the garden,
Walk through Haro Woods for the energetic or
Storytelling, DVD Clips from the Rootcellar on home cinema, check out stuff from the Guild archives..
4-5:30 PM: Stories 5:30-7 PM: Potluck picnic (timing is loose)
DIRECTIONS: Please look it up on a map. Give yourself extra time. Carpooling is sociable, sensible, and cheaper, too.
SPECIFIC TIPS: Park on Edgelow road if driveway is full.
BRING: A friend or partner
Sunscreen & sun hat,
Folding chair, if you have one,
Whatever you want to drink. I’ll supply lemonade.
A potluck dish: I have dishes and cutlery.Aaaaand STORIES!!!

VSG Founder Barbara Hutcheson Passes Away

Storytelling in Victoria and the establishment of the Victoria Storytellers Guild began thanks to the work of Barbara Hutcheson and Margaret Toakley. They were senior in the Central Library's Children's Department. Twenty-two years ago they brought in tellers 'from away' for performances and workshops. The first to come were Nan Gregory and Melanie Ray. Those who participated were asked if they wanted to establish a storytelling group locally, et voilà, the VSG was born. The library gave us a free place to meet for the first year and remained supportive in lots of ways. Barbara led the first few gatherings and then cast us off to sail away on our own.

A graveside memorial service was held at Pender Island Cemetery on 3 July, 2011.

Storytellers Conference in Yellowknife, NWT

It was my great privilege to represent the Victoria Storytellers Guild (VSG) at the recent 19th Storytellers Conference in Yellowknife, NWT called Story North. Here are a few of the highlights.

As the Air Canada flight began it’s decent into Yellowknife one could see large snow covered areas and it was apparent we had arrived in “the north”. VSG President, Al Fowler, and I were joined by a group of Alberta tellers and we all boarded the waiting bus to take us to the registration desk at the Explorer Hotel. Excitement was in the air as we were given our bags of conference materials. I was then picked up by Velma who had graciously offered to billet Melanie Ray and myself. The three of us had dinner together that night and talked long into the night, which almost doesn’t happen when there are 20 hours of sunlight in each day. It felt strange to watch beautiful sunsets at 10 and 11 o’clock at night. Velma’s house overlooked a lake from which we could access a paved path that took us downtown in about a 25-minute walk.

Thursday morning 20 of us attended a day long workshop called “How to Shine the Light on Storytelling” by Inga Petri of Strategic Moves, an Ottawa company that teaches marketing skills. The workshop was intended to raise awareness of how to promote storytelling in the community and elsewhere. The material was given to us to share with our groups at home and I am happy to do so. Questions such as “who is the target audience”, the clarity of the message and it’s consistency were addressed.

Later that evening we had the official welcome and introduction to this year’s Story Save. Lorne Brown from Toronto had been chosen as this year’s teller. He not only tells stories he also sings ballads and songs. He has been part of the Toronto storytelling scene for decades. His CD’s are now available in our libray, The Root Cellar. Following the Story Save launch 4 tellers were chosen from the 4 directions of Canada and told stories that highlighted the culture of their communities.

Friday, May 25th. began with a wonderful welcome story called “The Breaking of Bread” by Dawn Lacey. She must have stayed up all night baking as she stood before a long table filled with freshly baked breads, muffins, home made jams and butter, which we all shared at the end. Dawn was dressed in bakers costume and told stories of her mother and grandmother’s love of baking and sharing bread, the ingredients used, and importance in the community. There was always extra bread baked for those in need. This was followed by workshops planned by Storytellers of Candada - Conteurs du Canada (Sc-CC). I attended ”Partnership and Audience Diversification” facilitated by Ruth Stewart Verger on how to promote storytelling and attract larger audiences. Judging from the comments, Victoria is doing very well by comparison in this area.

Following the fabulous lunch buffet there was a concert to promote “Next Gen” tellers in the high school auditorium, which tended to be more performance than telling.

On each of the three days there were concerts called “Caribou Dropping” featuring tellers from the three territories, the Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut. It was through their stories that we learned of the history of the people, their amazing survival skills and resilience. I will share briefly some of these at our September Stories at Fern.

Michael Kusugak draws his stories from deep within his Inuit cultural roots in Nunavut. His interest lies in the healing properties of stories and how stories are the key to building healthy individuals and communities.

Scott McQueen from the Deni Nation of the Northwest Territories shared family stories of heroic adventures living in the north with only dogs and canoes to acquire your sustenance.

Ivan Coyote from the Yukon told her stories at 2 of the concerts as well as giving a workshop titled “Accessing Your Greatest Resource.” I loved her workshop and learned so much from her. She told us how she had recently been the “distinguished speaker” and delivered the Carol Shields Memorial lecture at the University of Winnipeg after which she received a long standing ovation. She is truly the master of personal reflections of her own space and the world that surrounds her.

One thing that needs to be mentioned is the fabulous food, which was presented daily in buffet style at the Explorer Hotel. Even when we arrived at various storytelling venues there were platters of fruits, cheeses and drinks. I had not expected such a feast as we often hear that there is a shortage of fresh fruit and vegetables in the north. Apparently in Nunavut it is a different story however as the food subsidy originally given by the government of Canada has been rescinded and now a jug of milk costs $22.00.

The conference days flew by and it was soon time to say good-bye. During these days there were 43 storytellers from across Canada that met together and shared many stories, hopes and dreams. We gained a deeper understanding of what it means to live in “the north”. I certainly did not realize the impact mining has on the livelihood of the people. The gold mines in Yellowknife have closed and the diamond mines have taken their place. Interestingly, Australian companies, DeBeers and BHPBiliton, own them. Quite a change from the way our first nations people lived on the land for centuries.

I am very grateful that our guild gave me this opportunity to experience these tellers and a part of my country I did not really know. I hope I can be of some use in the future in passing on this awareness. Please do not ever hesitate to ask me questions you may have about “Story North” and my experience in Yellowknife.

Thank you so very much.

Patricia Houston

June Stories at Fern

Our host, Dianne Gilliland, who presided over a full house and a full slate of tellers, opened with a surprise poem setting a fine example of humour and good storytelling before introducing the first teller of the evening.

Lee Porteous’ Chinese tale, “The Living Queen,” showed virtue rewarded by the Goddess Kuan Yin and along the way turned a snake into a dragon, a mute girl into a wife and a seeker who had relinquished his right to 3 questions into a rich and happy man.

A youthful Stephen Yeager brought skill and poise to his story, ”The Great Delivery,” in which a pompous dentist receives 2 magic figs in payment for his services and “goes to the dogs” as a result.

Jan Hockin’s yarn, “The Muckle Muckle Stone," was muckle indeed. The Scottish tale moved from digging a simple well to the king’s entire court trying to unearth the precious stone against the warnings of their wise man that “it will destroy them” and being banished for his trouble – muckle trouble.

A picture book entitled, “Sylvester and the Magic Donkey,” was Victoria Cownden’s source and she brought along the pretty red stone that created the magic that granted wishes if only you held it in your hand – or at least touched it closely.

Recently returned from the Yellowknife Storytellers’ Conference, Patricia Houston waxed eloquent about the special feelings evoked by stories told by First Nations and Inuit tellers. Patricia shareed several small vignettes including the poignant scene of an old man turning to meet a large bear to kiss it goodbye before leaving the village for a care home.

“That’s the way it was meant to be!” was Shirley Rutliffe’s comment looking back to her days with the Saint John’s Ambulance service when an unwanted shift in her service station produced a very personal meeting with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.

“A Patchwork Quilt” was the title Al Fowler gave to his reminiscences of his days as a young pastor in New Brunswick. Describing both land and people with loving detail, his description of quilt making was itself a patchwork quilt of the old days.

Using “The Other Way to Listen” by Byrd Taylor and Peter Parnall as a source, and her own melodious voice, Michelle Hibbins invited her listeners to move beyond what everyone hears and tune into the trees and flowers to hear their songs. Michelle added that as she was singing to the hills, the hills were singing to her. Michelle plans to share this story again at the Theartre SKAM Bike Ride along the Galloping Goose Trail on Saturday July 16 from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Prepared by Anne Forester
Photo of Diane Gilliland by Penny Tennenhouse

Kim Weitkamp featured in Monday Magazine

Check out the good news about Kim Weitkamp's concert Penny Candy Love on Saturday June 4 featured in Monday Magazine. A big enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the show. Kim was amazing!

May Stories at Fern

Molly Raher Newman as Emily Carr

Sandra was our lively host while Margo once again provided brief, gentle interludes of music on her Hang (a Swiss instrument, pronounced “Hung”) for an evening that included visiting tellers who surprised and delighted us. The first was no less a personage of renown than Emily Carr in her 'second life', portrayed by Molly Raher Newman. Molly, as an EDUTAINER, provided us with lesser known insights into Emily's life and had us all singing along with her, accompanied by her mandolin.

Sarah Vincent, one of four talented youngsters 'scouted' by Lee at the Festival of the Arts, personified The Killer Cat in "The Diary of the Killer Cat and Trip to the Vet", referred to by the veterinary staff as a "furry psychopath." Hilarious!

Jaya Scott then told the Japanese tale, "The Man Who Bought a Dream,”about a poor farmer who, against his wife's wishes, took what little money they had to follow a dream in search of hidden treasure, only to find it gone. The disappointed farmer, afraid to return home empty handed, found his wife jubilant as golden coins poured from their attic. The gift-giver was a golden bee who valued the distribution of wealth to the less fortunate.

Mary Vincent's story, "The Brave 7th Grade Viking Warrior," by Taylor Mali touched all our hearts. The Viking Warrior was a boy who, when he lost his hair to chemotherapy, found that his classmates had joined his hairless predicament by having their heads shaved, too. The history teacher's class project, to create a miniature Viking ship from popsicle sticks and balsa wood, became an unforgettable lesson when they burned their Viking ship, according to ancient custom, to carry their young Viking Warrior's soul to heaven.

Meghan Scott brought us "the Boy and the Devil,' a convoluted tale of transformation and trickery from which the Devil, used to having the upper hand in encounters with humans, learned to be very wary of boys who can read.

Shoshana shared the oral version of her story "Frida's Flute," which was published recently in an anthology of Canadian Folklore by the Edmonton School Board. Shoshana told us how the story got started in Poland in the 1700's and then evolved into a more modern version after the fall of the Soviet Union. Then she launched into her tale of Frida, a talented young musician who saved the world with music and learned how to read in the process.

Shirley once again wove the gift of homemade merriment into a story of her family's delight as they surprised their Dad on a special birthday. Remember her "Hide and Seek" story from January when her Dad hid under a big hat, among a group of picnickers in the park? This time, total strangers waiting in the arrivals area of an airport became the world’s first “Flash Mob” as they sang “Hello Wally” to the tune of “Hello Dolly” while sporting "Welcome Home Wally" buttons. Shirley’s shy brother, faced with the barrage of unknown welcomers, was now the one who wished he could vanish into thin air.

Jan, with the Cowboy Poem "the Whole Load," took us into a new-to-some-of-us genre: the world of Waddie Mitchell from Nevada, a "...renowned cowboy storyteller and buchaneer poet," according to Wikipeida where you can go to find out more about the 'homespun' philosophy of his poetry.

Anne's musings on the horizontal vs. vertical cutting of a very fine muffin led to her mother's tale of a couple married for half a century. Blessed with the delivery of a freshly baked breakfast roll each day, their tradition of each asking the other which half they preferred continued for 50 years before their true preferences were revealed.

The timid among us were advised to cover our ears to avoid hearing the gory details in Jennifer's story, a tale of a husbandless grandmother who became a professional assassin but, by a twist of fate in court, convinced the Judge that her despatch of a terrible monster was true.

Submitted by Janna

Theatre SKAM Bike Ride, July 9, 10, 16 and 17

Storytellers from the Victoria Storytellers Guild are taking part in the Theatre SKAM Bike Ride in July. On Saturday July 9 from 3:30 - 8:30 p.m. and Sunday July 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., two talented sisters, Cat and Meghan Thom, will weave ancient traditions with original compositions through story and song. On Sundays (July 10 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. and July 17 from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.) cyclists on decorated bikes get to choose which object from Shoshana Litman's plateful of stories becomes the most amazing tale, before riding off to see other lively, short theatrical, dance, spoken word and music performances. Emerging storyteller, Michele Hibbins, will reveal her own sweet tale on Saturday July 16 from 3:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes bicycle decorations, route maps and all the performances. What a deal!

Congratulations to Canadian Children's Book Tour Teller : Shoshana Litman

It has just been announced that Shoshana Litman has been chosen to be one of the tellers during Canadian Children's Book Week 2012. These tellers, who are members of SC-CC, are chosen by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre staff. Applicants are scored by an anonymous jury of experienced peers from provinces across Canada. In addition to the costs of accommodation, travel and meals, tellers are paid for their performances. Congratulations Shoshana.

April Stories at Fern

Photo of Margo McLoughlin by Katherine McGinnis

Shirley Routliffe hosted another full house of listeners at Stories at Fern on April 18. We had the pleasure of hearing Margo McLoughlin play her Hang between stories, giving us time to let the stories settle within us.

Janna led off with a story of her connection to the royal Coronation Coach at the end of World War II and on a later visit to London in the Buckingham Palace Mews - celebrating freedom to visit the Royal Household, - a visit to the House of Commons - celebrating freedom to witness the heart of democracy in action, a visit to Westminster Abbey - celebrating freedom to worship, with acknowledgment of those who gave their lives to preserve those freedoms. The title of her story: "Fanfare for Freedom".

Anne Beatty took us South of the border with "Computer School" a story about two teachers at the beginning of the computer age who decided to play hookey from required, but infinitely dull, computer lessons. They made their escape to the dog track, absorbing sufficient information about its workings to gamble and win a tidy sum.

Tessa Owens - invited to tell after Shirley attended her performance at the recent Festival of the Arts - told us "Road Rage" by Dave Barry, a fun telling of a number of 'rages' that seem to be part of our society's current speedy, affluent circumstances. Tessa we hope to have you with us again and, this writer hopes, that a Young Tellers evening at Fern will be reinstated before too long.

In the Aztec legend "How Music Came to the Earth" Al told how the wind and the sun did battle over the celestial music of the spheres, the sun forbidding the musicians to leave, the wind finally triumphing with such a blast that the musicians were scooped up, bringing their celestial harmonies down to Earth for our delight.

Victoria told us the Korean folk tale "Story for Sale" of a couple who, sadly, had no stories in their lives, the wife, in desperation, sending her husband out into their small world to buy a story. Victoria's rendition of both the story and the heron within the story, unforgettable.

Catherine Sheehan told the Japanese tale "The Master of the Tea Ceremony" in which the gentle tea master accidentally affronts a samurai and is challenged to a sword duel. From a Zen master our tea master learns to confront the warrior with such absolute calm and concentration that it is the warrior who retreats, the tea master free to return to his master's household intact.

I should not surprise us to know that Jacquie's parents were storytellers, particularly her mother, who told, through her daughter Jacquie, of the howling, wailing ghost who inhabited an old house. The kind of ghostly encounter no one believes until they experience it for themselves.

Margo brought us a timely tale in this present election era, of the difficulties encountered by the animals when trying to choose a King. One by one those presented for consideration were speedily discounted by a recitation of their negative rather than their positive qualities. At the end, only the dog was left. They dressed the dog in royal robes but when his mouth began to water with the smell of meat cooking on the fire he threw off th robes, snatched the meat and ran off to the woods. "He's no king" was the cry,"just a thief" The gathering broke up, and to this day, they have no king !

Lee rounded out the evening with a Vancouver Island story, a tall tale if ever there was one, of ByGod Stafford, the man who milked a whale to help her because her calf had died, then used the milk to feed piglets. A thieving bear put an end to the pig farming and offspring refused to eat anything from cow or goat and headed off to sea, following a mother whale. Believe it or no, after a while, a pod of pink whales was spotted in the waters near Ocean Falls and the Queen Charlotte Islands, now
Haida Kwai.

submitted by Janna

Consider Attending Story North

Just got the latest advert from StoryNorth, The annual SC-CC AGM and Conference. This year it will be in Yellowknife, NWT 26-29 May.  More info from Peg Hasted, Patricia Houston or Al Fowler.

Award Winning Guild Member

Congratulations to Victoria Storytellers Guild Member, Sylvia Olsen, who won the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Historical Writing for her book, "Working With Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater."

The B.C. Historical Federation's annual award recognizes the best non-fiction book representing an aspect of British Columbia history. "Working with Wool" has also been nominated for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. (This notice appeared recently in Victoria's Time-Colonist Newspaper.)

Listeners of the World, Unite!

Photo by Katherine McGinnis

"Listening to a story is not a passive experience. It is an action-filled colorful event in the theatre of the mind. Storytelling, by its nature, is an audience-involving art form. As the storyteller's narrative, shared in words and gestures, is perceived by the listener, vivid images are created in the listener's imagination. Costumes, scenery, characters, come to life with as much complexity and detail as the creative listener devises. Even when the teller shares stories with a large group, there is an intimacy and an immediacy to the art form that bonds the teller and the listener as the journey of the tale unfolds...Since the imaging on the part of the listener is rooted in their own personal imagination, the transfer of the tale is both a group event and a highly intimate exchange between the teller and each listener. There are as many stories being heard as there are ears to hear the teller."

- From "Joining In. Some Thoughts on Audience Participation" by Heather Forest

For details of what's happening at this year's annual conference of the Storytellers of Canada- Conteurs du Canada, check out Al Fowler's storytelling blog #yyjstoryteller.

Kim Weitkamp in Penny Candy Love

SATURDAY JUNE 4th 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
A humorous look at life, love and other quandries with:
KIM WEITKAMP - HUMORIST, SINGER/SONG WRITER, STORYTELLER

Grace Lutheran Church, 1273 Fort St. (Northeast of Moss St.)
Tickets: Advance $15.00 and $20.00 at the door
Tickets Available from: Chronicles of Crime, 1057 Fort St.
Munro's Books, 1108 Government Street
Ivy's Bookshop, 2188 Oak Bay Ave.

Kim Weikamp is an award winning performer who shares original stories and songs at theaters and festivals across the continent. She is a master at building bridges from story to song to story. Her album, Penny Candy Love, recently won two World Storytelling awards. Victoria storytellers who have experienced Kim's warmth and extraordinary ability can't wait to share her awesome talent with you.

For more information, contact publicity@victoriastorytellers.org or call 778-433-0979

World Storytelling Day 2011 Summary

Photo by Katherine McGinnis of VSG VP, Lee Porteous, and Treasurer, Andrea Samuels, selling tickets to this sold out event.

World Storytelling Day Concert at Intrepid Theatre Club
Water, Water, Water
March 20, 2011
Summary of Stories
1. Pat Carfra – “The Selkie of Skule Skerry” – a Scottish folktale.

A selkie emerges from the ocean and transforms into a man, who joins the village and lives with a young woman, who has his son, not knowing his identity. He reveals himself and tells her she must give up her son when he is 7 and he and the boy return to the ocean. She later marries and her new husband fulfils a prophecy by killing the selkie and his son, brining their pelts back to her.

2. Margo McLoughlin – “The Chief of the Well” – adapted from Harold Courlander’s book, The Piece of fire and other Haitian Tales

God answers the petitions of the thirsty animals and provides a well for all to use. The guardian of the well becomes a tyrant who refuses water to all, even God when he comes to investigate. The guardian is banished and can only drink from puddles. The new guardian, the frog, sings welcome to all to use the water, for although someone may “own” the land around the well, God has provided the water, which belongs to all.

3. Faye Mogensen – “A Pitcher of Water” – adapted from a story by Diane Halpin

During a drought in Saskatchewan, one family’s well continues to give water but runs dry when everyone has to use it. The neighbours, men, women and children decide to wait together behind the barn, until the next day to see if water will come back into the well. The family’s children share their ration of water (each has a glass) but the waiting people despair and some talk of suicide. The father brings his fiddle to the barn and the children encourage everyone to join him. He plays until even the men come in and all are cheered and calmed by the music. He plays until dawn, his fingers raw and bleeding, and the well produces more water (and hope), so everyone does get at least a drink.

4. Jennifer Ferris – “Lake Elm” – an Estonian legend adapted from the Kalevala and a version by Geraldine McCaughrean

A lake that is abused by the actions of robbers who begin living on its shores, takes its treasure of water, fish and other gifts, to transform a parched land whose people respect and care for it.

5. Jacquie Hunt – “The Aqueduct of Segovia” – adapted from Leyendas espanoles de todos los tiempos by Jose Maria Merino

Although we now know that the Romans built this aqueduct, for hundreds of years this magnificent structure amazed the local people, who could not imagine human beings being able to create such a structure. A legend grew about how a young woman servant, exasperated with the repetitive and tiring task of hauling water, bartered her soul to the devil if he would deliver water to the house every day BUT at the last minute specified the first delivery had to be before dawn the next day. The devil constructed the aqueduct but the girl, immediately repenting of her foolish bargain, implored Heaven so passionately and purely that God was moved to intervene. The wheels of Heaven were speeded up so that the devil was placing the last stone when dawn broke. The girl’s soul was saved and the people of Segovia received the majestic, and useful, aqueduct.

6. Diane Gilliland - “Skeleton Woman” – an Inuit story told by Mary Uukalat, published in Women Who Run with Wolves

An unfortunate young woman, murdered by her father who threw her into the sea, was reduced to a skeleton which a young man accidentally hooked with his fishing gear. He brought the whole skeleton to the surface, tangled in his line, and it “chased” him to his hut. Through the night, due to his compassion and her magic, she regained her form and the two lived a long and prosperous life together.

7. Shoshana Litman – “Soap, Soap, Soap” – an Appalachian folktale based on a version by Mike Lockett, the Normal Storyteller

Jack is sent to the store for soap, and to make up for his bad memory chants the subject of his mission. He has various encounters and the people whom he first offends by his chant and then helps, give him different things to chant until, at last, he is reminded of his original “soap” chant and to his mother’s amazement, actually brings her the soap she asked for.

8. Peg Hasted – “Place of Many Winds” – a family story from the west coast of Vancouver Island

The hey-days of the fishing fleet and the excitement of its presence in Kyuquot, when Peg was a child and her father was a fisherman are recalled, along with a dangerous run for home, in a severe storm that threatened the whole family aboard – an example of why the First Nations name for Kyuquot was “Place of Many Winds”

Music provided by Margo McLaughlin (Hang drum) and Nadia Engelstoft (fiddle)

March 2011 Stories at Fern

Jennifer as host welcomed a full house of tellers and listeners, old and new. At the Membership table a box for donations to the Red Cross to bring aid to Japan following the recent series of natural disasters there, earthquake, volcanic eruption and tsunami. Jennifer's story "The Burning of the Rice Fields" told of the sacrifice of a rice farmer's harvest to save his fellow villagers from extinction by a long-ago tsunami. The old farmer, who stayed on high ground for his afternoon rest while the younger ones celebrated harvest time at sea level, watched in horror as the sea was sucked away from the land, anticipated the overwhelming onrush of water, and torched his rice harvest to bring the villagers up the hill to extinguish the flames before the full force of the water swallowed them. So powerfully told we felt the terror of the happening as it must have been, only two weeks ago, for the people on the North East coast of Japan.


In this World Water month, another watery tale by Peg was the tale of the student requested by his teacher to bring him water. The student searched for his finest bowl to bring the water in only to be asked by the teacher why he brought a bowl when he had only asked for water.

Sandra, as a tribute to her own mother, told us with such grace of motion and voice, the story of Claire "The Girl Who Wanted to Dance". A young girl being raised by her father and grandmother, haunted by her grandmother's tale of her own daughter, Claire's mother, passion for dancing. A story that left some of us teary-eyed.

A change of pace with the telling of a Tanzanian folktale that took no notice of man-made borders and made its way to Ethiopia. Her first visit to Fern but no stranger to storytelling, Pauline Grainger of Puente Theatre, delighted us all with the antics of Jackal's and Leopard's endeavours to outwit one another. Pauline, please pay us another visit soon!

Catherine Sheehan - would you be wondering if she was Irish with a name like that? took us on a voyage to the undersea home of a Merrow named Coumara who captured the souls of drowned sailors and kept them in cages. A story from a collection by Malachy Doyle that included such characters as Jack and Biddy Doherty and plenty of that powerful potato drink poteen of which those of us without the Irish in our blood should beware !

Sujeong Kim, Serra while in Canada, a Korean student of English in Victoria and first-time storyteller, bravely told us a Korean folk tale that not only accounts for the origin of the moon and the sun, but illustrates to what length a mother will go to protect her children. This writer was entranced with the idea of the fierce tiger, which had already gobbled up the mother, doing voice exercises to make him sound like the mother who had forbidden her children to open the door to strangers.

Thanks to the Island e-vine maintained so ably by Deidre, Sandy Cole, a Nanaimo storyteller who visited Victoria to both inherit Janna's Little Blue Hippo (see February Fern blog) and tell us a story, chose "What a Squirrel Saw", a precautionary tale from "Tales out of Africa". She enjoyed the evening so much she vows to come back.

Shirley took us back in time to the Vienna of with the story of Grimaldi, the famous circus clown of the early 1800's, whose persona was to bring laughter and joy but who suffered from deep melancholy. Advised by the doctor treating him for "sickness of the soul" to do away with himself he endeavoured to do so in circus/theatrical fashion of various means. In his last effort to fall to his death from a height he was saved by his wonderful suspenders and that made him laugh so much his melancholy was cured!

A brief opportunity to tell a tiny story to a neighbour sitting beside or in front or behind us resulted in story noise filling the room, followed by Jennifer's invitation to come forward to tell us all a story just told and THAT resulted in a hilarious telling by newcomer Phyllis Graham of a singer father's desperate efforts to get his baby to sing.

WHAT A GRAND EVENING!!

Submitted by Janna

Grants for Storytellers

The next deadline for Canada |council grants for professional storytellers is 15 April. Read the details at http://www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/writing/io127227335980156250.htm

Story Fest 2011: Spring into Stories

Intrepid Theatre Club (Fisgard at Blanshard).
Our kick-off event, World Storytelling Day (featured in the above photo by Penny Tennenhouse) was such a hit, we had to turn people away at the door. Our April, May and June concerts were lots of fun as well. For more information about future concerts, contact: Lee Porteous atevents@victoriastorytellers.ca

Story Fest 2011 is a series of concerts highlighting the joy of adult storytelling told by VSG tellers who love to tell. Here’s a taste of the incredible stories told at our May 6 Mother's Day concert:

 Jennifer Ferris’ original tale, "Graduation," featured unexpected journeys on her son's graduation night.

 Moira Walker's moving narrative, "The Perfect Foot," revealed a mother’s anticipation of the birth of her child.

 "The Girl Who Wanted to Dance," a bewitching fairy tale by Amy Ehrlich retold by Sandra Johnson, honored the call to artistic life and those who heed it.

 A suave stranger married the daughter of the redoubtable, Tia Pia of Spain, in "Don Demonio's Mother-in-Law" retold by Catherine Sheehan.

 Listeners travelled to Budapest with the guest of honor at a lavish wedding to discover what a shoemaker, a goat and a broom had in common in "The Wise Shoemaker of Studena," a Jewish folktale retold by Nejama Ferstman.

 Jacquie Hunt surprised us all with her mysterious tale, "My Mother, A Storyteller."

 In "The Advisors," Shirley Routliffe intertwined a charming folk tale from India with a personal story from Canada.

Shirley hosted the May Mother's Day Concert while VSG Vice President, Lee Porteous, (who also had a great story up her sleeve for the May event) hosted in April and June. We hope you enjoyed the show(s) and look forward to seeing you at future events.

Stories at Fern

FALL INTO STORIES IN OCTOBER
Listen to and tell stories with the Victoria Storytellers Guild:
MONDAY, October 17, doors open at 7:15 p.m.
Stories start at 7:30 p.m.
1831 Fern St. (Park on Begbie.)
Admission: $5.00 Students $3.00 (includes tea and goodies)
Do you want to tell a story? Contact host Lee Porteus leeporteus@shaw.ca
We're looking forward to seeing you in October. Enjoy the harvest!

Water, Water Everywhere

Celebrate World Water and World Storytelling Day
March 22, 2011, 10:30 a.m.
Oak Bay Library, 1442 Monterey,
Free. Registration appreciated: 250-592-2489
Enjoy fun, participatory stories and songs for children aged 5 to 10 (all ages welcome). Explore rivers, oceans and mud puddles through the magic of your imagination, movement and voice with Juan de Fuca Library Branch Head, Andrea Brimmell, and storytellers, Cat Thom and Shoshana Litman.

It's Storytime Month at Tall Tales!

In honour of World Storytelling Day, Tall Tales Books (795 Fort Street) is hosting extra Storytime sessions this month.

In addition to regular Wednesday Storytimes, the store added two Friday sessions with Shoshana Litman during Spring Break and a "Teddy Bear Picnic" themed Saturday session with Peg Hasted. You can expect some great Teddy Bear stories from Peg and stories about "water", this year's theme for World Storytelling Day, from Shoshana. Here is the list of Storytimes for this month:

• Wednesday March 9, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman
• Saturday March 12, 11:00am with Peg Hasted (click here for details)
• Wednesday March 16, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman
• Friday March 18, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman
• Wednesday March 23, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman
• Friday March 25, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman
• Wednesday March 30, 11:00am with Shoshana Litman

For more information about Tall Tales Books, please visithttp://www.talltalesbooks.ca/

World Storytelling Day: Water Water Water

Intrepid Theatre Club: 1609 Blanshard at Fisgard

Sunday March 20, 2011

Afternoon concert for children and families: 2 - 3 pm

Evening concert for adults and mature children: 7 - 9 pm

Storytellers: Pat Carfra, Jennifer Ferris, Diane Gilliland, Peg Hasted, Jacquie Hunt, Sandra Johnson, Shoshana Litman, Margo McLoughlin, and Faye Mogensen.

Evening Concert Host: Lee Porteous

Tickets at the door; afternoon concert by donation; evening concert $10 per adult and $5 per child         

Contact: Lee Porteous at 250-370-2964, email events@victoriastorytellers.org 

For local news stories about these event please click here or here

Come celebrate water stories with children accompanied by their favorite adults on World Storytelling Day, Sunday March 20 in the afternoon. In the evening, you can travel the world with watery tales from Estonia, Spain, Scotland, the Arctic, the Appalachians Mountains, Haiti and our own wet coast. Here’s a taste of the incredible stories you’ll hear:

• Faye Mogensen will "…tell a true story of wells gone dry and the human kindness that brought hope.”
• Water is in short supply in Chief of the Well, a Haitian story retold by Margo McLoughlin. “When God supplies a well, who will control the resources?”
• “Navigate a wild, west coast storm…” with Peg Hasted and her family in Peg’s true account, Place of Many Winds.
• “Challenge the devil,” with Jacquie Hunt in the Aqueduct of Segovia.
• Pat Carfra will unveil how, “…by the light of a solstice moon, an enormous seal hauled itself out of the sea, shrugged away its heavy coat, revealing a handsome man who walked toward the little fishing village nearby.”
• In Lake Eim, an ancient story from Estonia retold by Jennifer Ferris, you’ll discover “…a lake that would not lie still.”
• Meet Skeleton Woman, an Inuit tale retold by Diane Gilliland, “…about how to create love so enduring it will make your eyeballs run to the back of your head.”
• “Explore thick, slick Tennessee mud and cross a mighty river in an irresistible rhythm…” with Shoshana Litman.

              

Since 1991, on the spring equinox, people around the world celebrate the art of oral storytelling by telling and listening to stories on the same day.  Each year a different theme is chosen. This year the theme is water. For more information on World Storytelling Day, please visit  http://www.freewebs.com/worldstorytellingday/ 

Watch for the Guild’s Story Fest 2011 Concert Series on April 15^th, May 6^th & June 17^th at Intrepid Theatre Club where you can continue to revel in a world of stories all spring long.

Your chance to tell:

Tell-Tales presents:

TALL TALES, LOUD LIES - stories that only an April fool would take seriously.

Friday, April l, 2011

7:00 pm

At Serious Coffee - 230 Cook Street Village, Victoria, BC

Come and tell a 5 to 8 minute story that could be:

- a personal story that stretches the truth

- a far-fetched folktale

- an out-and-out lie

Entrance fee for tellers - $5, $3 for students(to cover sound system costs)

Listeners - FREE  (and we are not fooling)

To hold a spot contact Jennifer Ferris and  Peg Hasted at tell.tales.events@gmail.com

You can also sign up night of, space permitting.

Stories should be told not read.

Special Saturday Storytime: Teddy Bear Picnic!

Special Saturday Storytime: Teddy Bear Picnic!
Saturday March 12, 11:00am

Bring your Teddy Bear (or other favourite stuffed friend) to Tall Tales Books for the Teddy Bear Picnic! Join us for a special Saturday Storytime with Peg Hasted as she presents some Teddy Bear themed stories and songs.

Perfect for ages 2 to 5, but open to everyone!

Smoked Fish, Bannock and Indian Tea, Bringing the Stories Home

Richard Wagamese, an acclaimed Ojibway story teller, memoirist and novelist, will demonstrate the importance and value of storytelling in a performance he will give at Royal Roads University on March 9, 2011. Several of us were impressed by this tellers performance at UVic. This will be an entirely different performance. It's free, except for parking, and it will be theatrical, hilarious and touching. Locarion is the Grant Building - Quarterdeck from 7-9 pm. Space is limited so we would appreciate your RSVP to  Indigenous.Development@royalroads.ca.
For more information: http://www.royalroads.ca/rru-events/mar-9-richard-wagamese-smoked-fish-bannock-and-indian-tea-%E2%80%93-bringing-stories-home

Stories At Fern - February

The following is courtesy of Anne Forrester and Janna  

In keeping with the Valentine's month Love theme, hosted by Sylvia Olsen, a large crowd of listeners tried out a new, theatre-style seating arrangement on which the Executive will appreciate comment from members.

Janna's "unlikely love story" told just enough of "The Blue Faience Hippopotamus", to whet listeners' appetites for the whole story of his transformation, with the help of a kindly magician, into becoming the object of 'his' princess's love. Having acquired a replica of such a little hippo, and in keeping with the Wisdom Book's adage that "there's a time to keep and a time to let go" Janna is delighted to be passing him on to another granny on the Island who loves to tell his story.

Love of gambling was the theme of Pat Carfra’s song. The ballad chronicled the success of the gambler and flowed along with Pat’s lovely voice and her guitar, then came to its final climax!  Having cleaned out all the card players, they accepted his final challenge “put up the name of your town as the stake.”  And as always, he won. Ever since,  to the loser’s chagrin, their town has borne the gambler’s name - “Weaverville”.

Jennifer told of another Pharoah's daughter, this time beguiled by the flute of a peasant boy as she sat in her garden. A boy who chose transformation into a warrior, "The Black Prince" as he came to be known, to win the Pharoah's favour and his daughter in marriage. Warned there would be no going back to his former self by this less-kindly magician, the warrior prince returned to claim his princess only to find her still in love with that former self, the simple boy with the flute.

Andrea, our new Treasurer and first time teller at Fern delighted us with her parents' love story. As young people she, a talented seamstress, he an apprentice carpenter who wooed her with his persistence and gifts of his craft in kind, survival of their love through years of separation, and eventual reunion and marriage in England . So expressively told, we look forward to more of her stories. 

A necklace of hearts topped by crowns was the topic of Sheila Blake’s impromptu vignette.   Wearing the necklace that had been an engagement gift from her husband so very many years ago, Sheila offered her encyclopedic knowledge of Scottish history and a legend about a crusader who died before he could join the trip to the Holy land but sent his heart instead.  The kind of necklace she showed us is known in Scotland as “lucken-booth” and Sheila’s closed with telling us that after one day, worrying about her dress when her Naval officer husband took her to be with the top brass, the Admiral’s instant comment on greeting her was, “What a beautiful necklace!’

Perhaps because of the special guest or the extra large number attending, the refreshments offered at the break were extra lavish and plentiful.  The array of fruit, sweets and savouries were a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

Lee Porteous opened the second half of the evening with the intricate details of a well-crafted story that is her special forte.  In her story, a prince and a shepherd’s son who have been raised together as though they were brothers are both trying to win a princess who has set her would-be suitors the task of keeping her awake for a whole night.  The honour falls to the shepherd who engages the princess right until dawn by intriguing and challenging her with his dialogue with a little wooden doll he has brought along to the vigil. Pretending to argue the merits of each case with the wooden doll, he draws the princess into offering her opinion about who is most deserving, most to blame…. AND as he has won the challenge of keeping the princess awake all night, he also wins her hand.

Our special visitor, Michael the Icicle, as he introduced himself, an Inuit from the Arctic Circle, charmed us with his 'Cinderella' story of an orphan boy rescued by his Big Brother from the family who mistreated him. The tale of Kaugjagjuk - the stone mallet - was told in a seamless blend of Inuktituk and English, another transformation story, this one achieved by the love, care and training poured into the younger brother until, oh sweet revenge - the father and mother from his old home were thrown to three ravenous polar bears roaming the village. And what of the two mean sisters who had tormented him ?? He married them both and left it to the imagination of the listeners to create their own happy or unhappy ending to the story !!

Scene and Heard

Scene + Heard is a project that connects the oldest form of storytelling with some of the most modern. CineVic: Society of Independent Filmmakers and Puente Theatre's project is the next phase of a collaboration project between local filmmakers and traditional oral storytellers, and will feature six works. Each story is either a traditional story or is the teller's own personal expression illuminating an experience of multiculturalism. Tellers include Jennifer Ferris and Su Ma.

Metro Studio 1411 Quadra Street, Victoria BC

Friday, February 25, 2011 -         8 PM
Saturday, February 26, 2011 -    2PM & 8PM
Sunday, February 27, 2011 -       8PM ferris.stories@shaw.ca

ROOTING THROUGH THE ROOT CELLAR

VSG members are invited to visit the guild library of books, CD's, DVD's, tapes, magazines:

 

Monday, January 31, 2011

7:30 - 9 pm

Jennifer Ferris's house - 2811 Prior Street, Victoria

 (north of Hillside, #4 bus)

(Prior Street has a yellow corner store and tennis shop at corner)

Please respond by email ferris.stories@shaw.ca if you think you can come.

 

Jennifer

Stories At Fern - January

Hosted by Shoshanna Litman, our January meeting once again filled the house, this time to be treated to stories that were “lighthearted and fun”.

Shirley Routliffe took us back to the family fun her father used to create for the whole family by playing hide-and-seek according to dad’s special rules.  After creating some pandemonium by hiding right in the middle of a very large Italian family picnic, dad’s comment summed up the family spirit with “We made a whole lot of memories today.”

Inviting us to participate in her folk tale, Sandra Johnson offered a watery version of “there was an old lady…”  With the ocean as setting, we joined in with “splish, splash…” as the old lady swallowed ever larger sea creatures – trout, salmon, otter… whale  and THEN the ocean itself  and that led to the release of one and all as “they all swam out.”

True to her lively spirit, Fay Mogensen described her creative ways of getting out of that official khaki uniform while working as a park naturalist. In the daytime with children she became a fairy, a frog and all manner of creatures.  Then at night, leading a VERY Large group into the wilderness to meet owls, every one of which failed to respond to her very authentic coaxing, she redeemed herself by enticing a loon to sound its “Loo loo looo” …

Taking us back to happy childhood memories of Kipling’s “Just So Stories”, Jacquie Hunt selected “How the Rhinoceros got its skin” as one of her favourites.  Telling how the Rhinoceros got its just deserts – and new fit for its formerly smooth skin – Jacquie treated us to some very realistic wriggles to show just how the Rhinoceros tried to relieve the itch of all the cake crumbs inside its skin that the Parsee had put there to revenge the theft of his cake.

Wearing a colourful tunic that matched the sparkle in his eyes, Becky Beckwith spoke of his love for Jamaica, the country where he grew up and whose people he knows so well - solid church-goers but hanging on to ancient superstitions; coupling strength with the willingness to laugh in the face of hardships and even death. To have us experience that spirit, Becky asked us to join him with the refrain of the hit song created after Hurricane Gilbert devastated his island home.  So as he sang it to us, we joined in with “Back to Back and Belly to Belly!”

Shayne King, who likes to be known as “the King of Magicians” demonstrated his art while presenting his tale of Rose, a lively 87-year-young lady whom he met while going to college.  As he spoke of her philosophy – “Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional” - he timed the end of the story with producing a lovely paper rose he had been creating. Letting it burst into flame, magically he turned it into a real rose which he presented to Shoshanna.

Lee Porteous followed up on the theme of aging with her presentation entitled AAFDS.

After giving us a number of comic vignettes of going back and forth wondering “what did I come here for?”  she let us in on the full title “Age Acquired Focus Deficit Syndrome” adding, you may laugh at this, but it’s coming to you too.”

As a bonus she told the tale of an old man who threw an axe at a bear, cutting off its leg which he and his wife put to very good use never knowing that the bear had fashioned himself a wooden leg on which he hobbled over to their cottage and ate them up!

In her gentle Newfoundland voice, Catherine Sheehan told “The Algebra Slippers” one of Ted Russel’s Pigeon Inlet Stories that capture the spirit of the people and their ways of facing life. Having short-changed Grampa in a trade of a couple of sealskins  -slightly peppered by holes - for molasses, Josiah the merchant let himself be tricked into admitting that he would gladly sell anything for ten times the amount he paid. With Grampa wishing to buy back the sealskins, the local schoolmaster proceeded to prove to Josiah that based on Algebra fifty cents deducted for each hole in the skins meant “minus 50 cents” and ten times that made “minus $5.00”. So in selling back the sealskins, he would have to pay Grampa $5.00. And that’s how Grampa got his “Algebra slippers.”

Closing a very full roster of fun stories, Shoshanna topped up the riches by taking us to the ancient Polish town of Chelm that is famous for stories told of its Jewish community.  Telling of a couple of the kind of foolish things that tend to happen, Shoshanna explained that after God had created the world, he sent down two angels, one carrying a sack of wisdom and one a sack of foolishness.  As foolishness was much heavier than wisdom, the sack got hung up on the tip of a mountain and it all spilled out over Chelm.  And that was the end of the stories.

Submitted by Anne Forester