The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative
Stories are wondrous things. And they are dangerous." In The Truth About Stories, Native novelist and scholar Thomas King explores how stories shape who we are and how we understand and interact with other people. From creation stories to personal experiences, historical anecdotes to social injustices, racist propaganda to works of contemporary Native literature, King probes Native culture's deep ties to storytelling. With wry humor, King deftly weaves events from his own life as a child in California, an academic in Canada, and a Native North American with a wide-ranging discussion of stories told by and about Indians. So many stories have been told about Indians, King comments, that "there is no reason for the Indian to be real. The Indian simply has to exist in our imaginations." That imaginative Indian that North Americans hold dear has been challenged by Native writers - N. Scott Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louis Owens, Sherman Alexie, and others - who provide alternative narratives of the Native experience that question, create a present, and imagine a future. King reminds the reader, Native and non-Native, that storytelling carries with it social and moral responsibilities. "Don't say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You've heard it now."
As we explore King's lecture series, we will be considering some of the following questions in our unit of Understanding Beliefs and Initiating Actions:
1. How can Canadians
and their communities with varying and divergent beliefs act ethically,
co-operatively, and respectfully?
2. How can the individual or collective beliefs of Canadians influence Canada’s actions?
3.Do Canadian citizens share collective principles that define them as Canadians?
4. How do Canadian facilitate understanding of one another’s beliefs?
We will be listening to lecture 1, 2, and lastly, lecture 5. These are clearly marked on the online postings. We will be listening to his lecture series and working on taking lecture notes to help practice note taking skills, which is important as you move forward in your schooling and work life.
ELA Goals/ Outcomes (Unit of Study):
- CR A30.3- Listen to, comprehend, and develop coherent and plausible interpretations of grade appropriate literary and informational texts created by FNMI, Saskatchewan, and Canadian speakers and authors from various communities.
- CR A30.4-Read, demonstrate comprehension of, and apply knowledge from grade-appropriate informational and literary texts from FNMI, Saskatchewan, and Canadian authors as a basis of understanding self and the multiplicity of voices and perspectives that make up Canadian culture.
- CC A30.4- Create a variety of informational and literary texts that are appropriate to a variety of audiences and purposes including informing, persuading, and entertaining.
- AR A30.1-Assess own work for precision, clarity, and artistry.
- AR A30.2-Reflect on personal growth and successes in language learning and consider the role and importance of language learning when developing personal goals and plans as self- directed, curious, self appraising, and open-minded learner.