Roger Fernandes: Teachings of the First People

The season of short days and long nights, of cold rain outside and warm fires inside the longhouse, was perfectly suited for the native Salish people of Puget Sound to tell stories in the evenings.  According to Roger Fernandes, “For all of human history there has been storytelling. It is the most effective and powerful way of sharing, teaching, and communicating.”  Roger Fernandes invites us to listen as he tells some of the old teaching and healing stories in a free family evening at the Land Trust Building on Saturday, January 24, at 6:30pm.

His “Teachings of the First People” may include stories about how the very first People became the present day Deer, Raven, Salmonberry, and Storm Wind, and how their arguments, adventures, and marriages created the landscape we now live in. They will give us examples of good conduct and bad behavior, showing the consequences of each. As in the January evenings of 200 years ago, people of all ages will listen, and all will find their own meanings in the stories based on personal experience. 
Modern communications via internet, ipads, cell phones, televisions, DVDs and CDs have enabled many contemporary people to select personalized entertainment and education without spending long evenings at home with family and neighbors. But do stories received this way have the presence and impact the old ones had, the ones that were shared by the fire?  Roger Fernandes says they do not: “The old people say that the new ways have no spirit. The true power of storytelling comes when the moisture of the teller’s breath gives life and power to the story.”  He says that “Spiritual health that people need is told in stories that convey how a human being is to live in balance with family, community, and nature. Stories lead to a spiritual and emotional understanding on how to live in the world.”
Roger Fernandes, whose native name is Kawasa, is a member of the Lower Elwha Band of the S’Klallam Indians from the Port Angeles area. Although he grew up in Seattle, he identifies with his Salish culture. He is an artist and a tribal historian as well as a storyteller.  His art is in a number of regional galleries, and he has created public art installations such as the one on lower Queen Anne Hill at Third Avenue West and Thomas Street. It is an arch made of cedar panels featuring Snoqual, also known as Moon the Transformer, the powerful being who changed many ancient people into their present forms as plants, animals, mountains, rain, and other phenomena.
“Teachings of the First People” is the latest in a series of events produced by the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association in connection with their special exhibit, “Vashon Island’s Native People: Navigating Seas of Change.”  This exhibit will be on display until March 15 during the museum’s open hours Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00pm. On Saturday the 24th these hours will be extended to 6:30, to enable visitors to tour the exhibit and then come to the event across the street.
This program has received special support from Humanities Washington. Other sponsors of the exhibit and related events are 4Culture, Puget Sound Energy, DIG, Beth de Groen, Rick’s Diagnostic & Repair Service, The Hardware Store Restaurant, John L. Scott Real Estate, and the Northwest School of Animal Massage.