If this is Your Land, where are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground“We need to understand our stories because our lives depend upon it.” -- Ted Chamberlin The stories we tell each other reflect and shape our deepest feelings. Stories help us live our lives -- and are at the heart of our current conflicts. We love and hate because of them; we make homes for ourselves and drive others out on the basis of ancient tales. As Ted Chamberlin vividly reveals, we are both connected by them and separated by their different truths. Whether Jew or Arab, black or white, Muslim or Christian, Catholic or Protestant, man or woman, our stories hold us in thrall and hold others at bay. Like the work of Joseph Campbell and Bruce Chatwin, this vital, engrossing book offers a new way to understand the hold that stories and songs have on us, and a new sense of the urgency of doing so. Drawing on his own experience in many fields -- as scholar and storyteller, witness among native peoples and across cultures -- Ted Chamberlin takes us on a journey through the tales of different peoples, from North America to Africa and Jamaica. Beautifully written, with insight and deep understanding, If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories? examines why it is now more important than ever to attend to what others are saying in their stories and myths -- and what we are saying about ourselves. Only then will we understand why they have such power over us. From the Hardcover edition. |
From inside the book
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Page 64
I love rivers and mountains and birds and bears , and I am not fond of the roads
and dams that break them up and destroy their habitat . But like the Shakers , I
also love chairs made of wood , and I love songs that have words , which bird
songs ...
I love rivers and mountains and birds and bears , and I am not fond of the roads
and dams that break them up and destroy their habitat . But like the Shakers , I
also love chairs made of wood , and I love songs that have words , which bird
songs ...
Page 91
... from religious persecution in Russia who had come to British Columbia around
the turn of the century and retreated into the mountains , the most radical calling
themselves Freedomites and reading the Bible as an exile ' s covenant .
... from religious persecution in Russia who had come to British Columbia around
the turn of the century and retreated into the mountains , the most radical calling
themselves Freedomites and reading the Bible as an exile ' s covenant .
Page 219
ELEVEN Ceremonies THE GITKSAN PEOPLE of the northwest of British
Columbia have lived in the mountains , fishing ... They have a story that tells of
changes to one of the river valleys , near the mountain called Stekyooden ,
across from the ...
ELEVEN Ceremonies THE GITKSAN PEOPLE of the northwest of British
Columbia have lived in the mountains , fishing ... They have a story that tells of
changes to one of the river valleys , near the mountain called Stekyooden ,
across from the ...
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Contents
Introduction | 1 |
LOSING | 74 |
REALITY AND THE IMAGINATION | 94 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
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If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground J. Edward Chamberlin Limited preview - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
aboriginal American Americas asked Australia become beginning believe bring called century ceremony choice civilized claim comes contradiction course cowboys cultures death described dream English fact faith father feel Gitksan give hand happen heart hold horses human hundred idea imagination important Indian John kind knew land language later listen live look meaning metaphor mind mountains move native natural Navajo never North once poem poet question reality recognize remark represented rhymes river sacred seemed sense settlers side sing society sometimes sounds speak spirits stories and songs storytellers strange talking tell things thought told traditions translated true truth turned understand West wonder write written