Bears

[Claire Bowern]

Hi Tammy,
Bardi people at One Arm Point have had success with children's stories for the local school by having the children dress up and play the parts of the characters. The older ones get involved as narrators and scene design and the younger ones play the characters. They've acted out the stories at school assemblies and videoed, and photos are taken which are then made into books. It's certainly not the same as animation but everyone got really into it, and it was lovely for the elders to see the stories come alive with the kids. They were so pleased to see it.
Claire

On Sep 15, 2011, at 11:27 AM, Tammy DeCoteau wrote:

> Mitakuyapi (My relatives),
> 
> We have discussed this topic in our office and we have mixed feelings about it.  
> 
> In the drawer of my desk we have ten stories our Treasured Elders made.  Each story teaches a different value (show respect, help others, etc.) and they feature a Turtle and a Dragonfly.  These are meant to be animated.  Who knows, though, how long those stories are going to sit in my desk drawer.  Once I talked with an animation company and do to a few minutes it was $60,000.00.  
> 
> We have always felt that anything in the language is beneficial.  Perhaps it will create the spark in someone to become passionate about their language.  
> 
> Tammy DeCoteau
> AAIA Native Language Program
> 

Claire