Kiowa folk songs reborn in new storybooks (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Kiowa folk songs reborn in new storybooks
First in a series is now available

CHICKASHA OK
Beau B. Brewer 1/24/2005
http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=5856

A Kiowa woman noted as her people's Sequoyah -- a scribe devoted to
preserving and teaching a native language in written form -- has taken
legendary Kiowa folk songs and is now giving them life through
storybooks.

Author Alecia Gonzales has published the first of five books in this
unique collection of bilingual children's stories, printed by the
University of Science and Arts in Chickasha.

Little Red Buffalo Song is available in the USAO Bookstore and from
Anadarko Daily News.

Gonzales is a woman of Kiowa and Apache descent, born in Fort Cobb,
Oklahoma. At birth, she was given her Kiowa name Sahmah, which means,
the lady from the North.

Preservation of language, culture, and morals are the key components
being taught to children and adults alike, through her colorfully
illustrated storybooks.

Readers see the story in both Kiowa and English shown parallel to one
another. For non-native speakers, a special CD-ROM is included that
features the author reading the story in both languages.

Full color illustrations by ShaunDae Chaddlesone on each page truly open
the hearts and minds of all who read this book, Gonzales said. She in a
former student of the author's and is the daughter of noted Kiowa
artist Sherman Chaddlesone.

These storybooks are being designed to build the bonds of love and trust
between mother and child as they interact together, Gonzales explained.

This story is about a mother buffalo and her concerns for her child,
Goule-ee, to be aware of dangers. This story and this song are used in
counseling sessions too.

This story and these songs that we have are used even into early
adulthood, Gonzales said. Goule-ee means little red baby buffalo.

The remaining four books in the collection of Kiowa story-songs, A
Mother Bird's Song, Grandma Spider's Song, Grandmother's Song, and The
Prairie Dog Song are set for release later this spring.

The books are being printed by the University of Science and Arts in
Chickasha.

Gonzales, of Anadarko, graduated from the Oklahoma College for Women
(now USAO) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 and went on to
Southwestern State College to obtain her masters in 1974.

Further graduate studies led Gonzales to the University of Oklahoma as
graduate fellow, Arizona State University, and Utah State University.

Gonzales enjoys her roles as mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
But she devotes much of her time to preserving and teaching her
language at USAO and Anadarko High School. She also offers in-service
training for teachers in the use of her first book.

Since Gonzales successful release of her first book, Thaum Khoiye Tdoen
Gyah -- Beginning Kiowa Language in 2001, she has been honored
nationally for her extensive knowledge of her Kiowa heritage. Her first
book was praised as America's first textbook for preserving and sharing
the Kiowa language.

I love to share the ways of my people, the Kiowa, she said.

Her work has made her a celebrity of sorts for her knowledge and
enthusiasm about Kiowa history. In fact, visitors to the new American
Indian-Smithsonian museum in Washington hear Gonzales voice in recorded
segments on an audio tour.