Show Ute Ufe Indian folklore book to be used in schools The Uintah Ouray Ouray Ute Ule Indians Indians Indians In In- have completed work on a book for distribution in Utah schools schools- that Is designed to preserve tribal folklore for future generations Prepared with the assistance of the American n West Center at atthe atthe atthe the University of Utah the page hard-bound hard book is a collection of historical cultural and ex explanatory plana tory tales TITLED Stories of our Ancestors the volume was three years in the making and will become part of the seventh grade curriculum in Utah school districts that have a sizeable Indian population In the introduction Kathryn L L. L MacKay of the American West Cent Center r says the stories have been collected and published to give recognition to the richness of the Ute storytelling storytelling story story- telling tradition and to present the tales to a new generation It is written In English since Ute is a spoken and not a written language SOME OF the tales have been compiled in an accompanying page 28 booklet bearing the same name that will be used by fourth graders It is written in English and a phonetic system that could form the basis for a written Ute language The books will allow Ute children to identify with a literature that is their own says Dr Floyd ONeil O'Neil associate director of the American West Center and project consultant In recent years the schools of America have been altered with black lack Chicano and Asian literature at the request of these minorities The problem Ismore is ismore ismore more difficult with the American Indians who have more than different cultures Dr ONeil O'Neil says THE SYMBOL 20 phonetic system was developed by Norma Denver Kathryn MacKay and Daisy Jenks Mrs Denver and Mrs Jenks teach Inthe in inthe inthe the district The system is based on the Uncompahgre dialect but is adaptable to the Uintah and White River dialects Most of the tales involve animal characters especially the coyote who is variously portrayed as a trickster dupe or hero Most of the stories tories take place in a mythical past when animals could talk and function like human beings ONE STORY Coyote and the Mountain Lion is an explanation of proper hunting methods Another Coyote Hunts with Bow and Arrow stresses the importance of obedience to the elders The entire project was funded by the Ute tribe and the Research and Cultural Studies Development Section of the Bureau of Indian Affairs The work was completed under the direction of the Tribal Business Committee and by Fred Conetah tribal historian Dr ONeil O'Neil says says says' the tons are an outgrowth of the desire by the tribe to place something in public schools and the public at large that accurately represents their culture and their thought TilE THE EX EXPLANATORY PLANA TOllY tales attempt to answer why things are the way they are Entertainment tales are told for fun Cautionary tales les convey moral or social instruction Cultural continuity tales explain the origins of culture Mrs MacKay sa says that t because of change in Ute Ule lifestyle lifestyle life life- style the tradition of storytelling storytelling storytelling story story- telling has been disrupted IN THE books book's introduction she explains telling Story and listening to stories was once a major form of oC recreation for Cor Utes Ules Now days there are few accomplished accomplished accomplished ac ac- tellers story-tellers to command that Hat position of respect and honor and even more significant there is no longer an audience for them the young are arc busy with school church and athletic activities and television watching |