Coach Craig Berube
The Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies (BCAIS) at Washington University in St. Louis envisioned providing a means for Indigenous people who reside in Missouri to share their personal and cultural stories. This idea arose as COVID-19 began to spread and prevented many Indigenous events and gatherings from occurring in the local area and around the nation. In response, we wanted to create a way for people to have access and the ability to connect with Indigenous people and their cultures. Grant funding by the Missouri Humanities Council Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), made it possible to interview Indigenous individuals of many different tribal nations who reside in Missouri and some from outside the state who have connections with Missouri.
Oral storytelling was, and still is, the primary way of passing traditional cultural stories while providing important knowledge and teachings. Each interview that you’ll see maintains this element, as individuals share stories about themselves and their culture. They share their life’s journeys and experiences as Indigenous people while providing educational moments about their tribe’s culture. Click on the video’s below to watch each interview unfold and learn more about Indigenous peoples and cultures.
Rita Carrington, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Maria Hussman, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Anishinaabe
Janeé Kassanavoid, Comanche Nation
Neil Lawhead, Pamunkey Cherokee, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Kiowa Tribe, Comanche Nation
Joe Masters, Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians
Jim Pinto, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Zuni Pueblo
American Indian Student Association at the Brown School
R William Harjo, Muskogee (Creek) Nation
Melissa Horner (Métis/Anishinaabe)
Suzanne Jones, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Fanavae Mafuli, Malele Faatuono, and Eteuni Puni, Samoan
Denise Montgomery, Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (Meskwaki Nation)
Sherry Taluc, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians
The Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies has created the Digital Indigenous Storytelling Project, funded by the Missouri Humanities Council Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), in 2020 to gather and share Indigenous people’s voices within the state of Missouri.
Digital Indigenous Storytelling Project
Facebook Live Event
November 17, 2020
Music provided by William Harjo
If you are interested in purchasing a cd, you can contact him at wgharjo@yahoo.com