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American Indian tales enchant local students |
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Friday, 02 November 2007 |
 Storyteller Brenda Miller, who was in Benton for her 50-year high school reunion, tells a Cherokee Indian turtle story to the fourth-grade class of her great-niece, Emma Rhodes, on Wednesday at Ringgold Elementary School. Miller now resides in Shingle Springs, Calif. (Courier photo by Jillian Duke)
Miller, who was in town celebrating her 50-year Benton High School reunion, was happy to visit Jacqueline Reynolds' class. Her great-niece, Emma Rhodes, sat in the back of the class and took photos of her great-aunt clad in original Cherokee Indian garb with beaded jewelry.
Now a resident of Shingle Springs, Calif., Miller comes to Benton about once a year to visit family. Her niece (Emma's mother), Cindy Rhodes, said the family is pleased Miller still takes time to visit, noting her interest in traveling everywhere.
Miller came to the class on Halloween, but she didn't tell scary tales. She stuck to stories about turtles, an animal that is very important to the Cherokee Indians.
She told two stories of how the turtle cracked his shell and one that explains why turtles sleep at the bottom of bodies of water during winter. Another one involved the bear, which the Cherokee use to teach children how pride comes before a fall. In Miller's story, the turtle beat the bear in a race.
Miller said she's always willing to practice her passion at schools or different organizations to keep storytelling alive and well. That's why storytelling guilds are important, she said. “They try and help continue to keep storytelling alive.”
A former school teacher, Miller said she considers storytelling “a pleasure.” Naturally, she integrated her storytelling style into her instruction.
Miller is a member of the El Dorado County and Sacramento Storytelling guilds.
Usually, Miller said, she has drums and shakers to add more life to her stories, but Reynolds' class didn't know the difference. They sat patiently waiting for the next piece of the plot, watching Miller's various gestures and listening to her changing voice. Applause rang out at the end of each story, and insightful questions were asked before Miller was on her way.
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