Taanishi! Way!

This year at Blewett Elementary, one of our whole-school focused literacy goals is improving oral literacy skills. To support this goal in an Indigenized way we have been focusing largely on the traditions of oral storytelling. Oral story telling is a central part of Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous pedagogies. Speaking, listening, and sharing through story has always been a powerful method for teaching, learning, and connecting within Indigenous communities. 

So far we’ve explored various stories from our local area such as the Legend of Frog Mountain and the story of how the Columbia River came to be. We have also explored other Indigenous stories from various regions, such as the creation story of Sky Woman and Turtle Island, and various coastal Trickster Tales. These stories help students see that the Land holds knowledge, and that stories can guide how we understand ourselves and our relationships with others and our relationships with the Land.

As we move forward in our goal of improving oral literacy skills, we are shifting toward helping students become the storytellers. This year, learners will practice reading stories out loud, memorizing and retelling stories, and eventually, they will write and share their own stories.

We remind students that they are already storytellers. Every time they talk about their weekend, share something that happened at home, or tell a funny moment from recess, they are practicing the art of storytelling.

By building these skills, we hope students build confidence using their voices and have a sense of pride in the stories they have to share. Strengthening oral literacy doesn’t just support academics—it strengthens our relationships, our community, and our connection to the Land and to one another.