Humanities Roadshow: Wisdom Keeping: Abenaki Stories and Storytelling Traditions
Traditional Abenaki stories have always been for all ages and communities. Anne Jennison, a traditional Northeast Woodlands Native American storyteller of European and Abenaki heritage, will share some traditional Abenaki stories, which tell of the world's creation, the creation of the aki (land), nebi (water), first awaasak (animal people), and the first alnobak (human beings), to teach us how to live in balance with one another. She will also share how these stories have always, and continue to be, passed down from one generation to the next, as well as the role of both storytelling and storyteller within the context of Abenaki culture.
About the presenter: Anne Jennison is a New Hampshire-based Native American storyteller, historian, educator, and craftsperson. With master’s degrees in storytelling and history, Anne brings a wealth of knowledge - enhanced by more than 30 years as a performing storyteller - to her retelling of timeless Native American lessons, especially the stories of the Northeast. Since retiring from classroom teaching, Anne continues to be an active public educator, teaching Abenaki history and culture at schools, colleges, powwows, libraries and cultural organizations. Anne is also a co-producer of the annual Dawnland StoryFest, New England’s only Native American storytelling festival.
