Native Talk
PRESENTA PRESENTATION PREVIEW FOR TEACHERS
NATIVE TALK—Luiseño Storytellers
NATIVE TALK is a storytelling and performing arts group. Chaz and Cathleen Chilcote are storytellers who become the characters in the traditional California Indian tales that they share with audiences. Brandon Chilcote Wallace is a musician and provides original and traditional Indian flute music for the presentations. He also plays a variety of other folk instruments to add sound effects to the stories.
Chaz, Cathleen, and Brandon are Luiseño Indians and members of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. The Luiseños are the neighbors to the north of the Kumeyaay Indians. Luiseño territory spans from Encinitas, north to San Juan Capistrano, and east to the coastal mountains and Mt. Palomar. The Mission San Luis Rey was built by the Luiseño Indians. Today there are 7 bands of Luiseño Indians: San Luis Rey Band, Rincón, Sobóba, Pala, Pauma, La Jolla, and Pechanga.
Students will hear the Luiseño language spoken in the introduction of the performance and they will hear words woven into some of the stories. Each story ends with the words “Hamú’ Táp” (ha-moo-top) which means “The End”. Cathleen and Brandon are members of Pechanga’s Luiseño Language Revitilization Program.
Following the introduction, Chaz and Cathleen present a brief history of the Luiseño people. This is very informative and delivered in storytelling fashion. Students will learn about the food, homes, religion, and way of life of the early Luiseño Indians prior to the Mission Era.
Brandon, who is 14 and in the eighth grade, will play flute solos on his wooden Native American flutes. Students will observe the variety of instruments he plays during the presentation and how the music adds to the stories. During his solo time Brandon will play some songs that are very, very old traditional Indian songs; lullabies that surely our grandmothers knew.
During the 45 minute presentation NATIVE TALK will perform 6 traditional Indian stories in the legend and folktale genre. Students learn that storytelling is the way that history, culture, and knowledge were passed from generation to generation before there was a written language. Stories were the teachers and each story the students hear has a lesson or moral. Students should listen for the message or theme of each story.
Students will observe the clothing of the NATIVE TALK performers. Cathleen wears the full skirt and blouse typical of the post-Mission Era. Her jewelry is made only from shells, beads, and seeds that were used by the local Indians. Chaz and Brandon wear ribbon shirts. These are worn for special occasions, powwows, and ceremonies. These shirts are specially designed for each man and are often in a solid color or calico material.
Many students feel that Native Americans only appear in the pages of their textbooks, that they all hunted buffalo and no longer exist. It is the goal of the NATIVE TALK presentation to help students become aware of the unique history and lifestyle of local Indians. Students will also become aware that local Indians still exist; living in mainstream society while preserving their culture and traditions.
NATIVE TALK—Luiseño Storytellers
NATIVE TALK is a storytelling and performing arts group. Chaz and Cathleen Chilcote are storytellers who become the characters in the traditional California Indian tales that they share with audiences. Brandon Chilcote Wallace is a musician and provides original and traditional Indian flute music for the presentations. He also plays a variety of other folk instruments to add sound effects to the stories.
Chaz, Cathleen, and Brandon are Luiseño Indians and members of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. The Luiseños are the neighbors to the north of the Kumeyaay Indians. Luiseño territory spans from Encinitas, north to San Juan Capistrano, and east to the coastal mountains and Mt. Palomar. The Mission San Luis Rey was built by the Luiseño Indians. Today there are 7 bands of Luiseño Indians: San Luis Rey Band, Rincón, Sobóba, Pala, Pauma, La Jolla, and Pechanga.
Students will hear the Luiseño language spoken in the introduction of the performance and they will hear words woven into some of the stories. Each story ends with the words “Hamú’ Táp” (ha-moo-top) which means “The End”. Cathleen and Brandon are members of Pechanga’s Luiseño Language Revitilization Program.
Following the introduction, Chaz and Cathleen present a brief history of the Luiseño people. This is very informative and delivered in storytelling fashion. Students will learn about the food, homes, religion, and way of life of the early Luiseño Indians prior to the Mission Era.
Brandon, who is 14 and in the eighth grade, will play flute solos on his wooden Native American flutes. Students will observe the variety of instruments he plays during the presentation and how the music adds to the stories. During his solo time Brandon will play some songs that are very, very old traditional Indian songs; lullabies that surely our grandmothers knew.
During the 45 minute presentation NATIVE TALK will perform 6 traditional Indian stories in the legend and folktale genre. Students learn that storytelling is the way that history, culture, and knowledge were passed from generation to generation before there was a written language. Stories were the teachers and each story the students hear has a lesson or moral. Students should listen for the message or theme of each story.
Students will observe the clothing of the NATIVE TALK performers. Cathleen wears the full skirt and blouse typical of the post-Mission Era. Her jewelry is made only from shells, beads, and seeds that were used by the local Indians. Chaz and Brandon wear ribbon shirts. These are worn for special occasions, powwows, and ceremonies. These shirts are specially designed for each man and are often in a solid color or calico material.
Many students feel that Native Americans only appear in the pages of their textbooks, that they all hunted buffalo and no longer exist. It is the goal of the NATIVE TALK presentation to help students become aware of the unique history and lifestyle of local Indians. Students will also become aware that local Indians still exist; living in mainstream society while preserving their culture and traditions.