Instructional Plan: Phase III

Instructional Plan: Phase III

Title

Length of
Course

Storytelling Apprenticeship
Apprenticing to become a tribally recognized
storyteller is a passion and takes dedication.
Traditional stories in the Chickasaw Nation are few and
far between. In a tribe with over 42 thousand citizens
there are only three stories with only 2 of those
storytellers who are actively sharing stories. The need
for more storytellers is increasing each year. The
apprenticeship course is, to some, a long course cover
a 14-month time frame. Since Chickasaw citizens are
geographically spread out covering many countries
including the United States the challenge is teaching
storytelling traditionally. Therefore, there are two
ways of participating in the Storytelling Apprentice
course:
Face-to-Face or On-line. This means that location is
not an issue.
This course will be a dedication of time from
apprentices. The course will include: 10 hours a
month for 14 months of Master/Apprentice time
together. This time can be scheduled between the
Master storyteller and the apprentice. Class will be
additional time that ranges from 1-3 hour classes
offered up to four times a month through the
Chickasaw Cultural Center and Chickasaw Cultural
Resources. Apprentices may enroll in these classes as
their schedule allows but within the 14-month time
frame. Since required course time is to be scheduled
between the Master storyteller and the Apprentice it is
difficult to list those specific course dates. However,
other course dates as in start date, end date, and
classes can be listed.
Start date: February 1st
Schedules Classes that are offered up to four times a month

February: Storytelling: Chickasaw Traditions

Textbooks: Chikasha Stories Volume 1-3 by
Glenda Galvan, Master Storyteller, The Early
Chickasaw Homeland by Dr. John Dyson
March: Chickasaw History: Ancient History

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Textbooks: Chickasaw Lives Volume 1 by

Richard Green, The Early Chickasaw Homeland
by Dr. John Dyson
April: Chickasaw History: Homeland, Removal (Trial of
Tears)
Textbooks: Chickasaw Removal by Daniel F.
Littlefield Jr., Fuller L. Bumpers and Amanda L.
Paige, Chickasaw Lives Volume 2-3 by Richard
Green
May: Chickasaw History: Indian Territory
Textbooks: Chickasaw Removal by Daniel F.
Littlefield Jr., Fuller L. Bumpers and Amanda L.
Paige, Chickasaw Lives Volume 3-4 by Richard
Green
June: Spirit of Oklahoma Storytelling Conference:
Regional conference that includes workshops to
include but not limited to:
Storytelling 101
How to find your story
Changing stories for your audience
How to read your audience
July: National Storytelling Conference: This
conference includes all of the United States and
International storytellers. Workshops to include but
not limited to workshops for special interest groups:
Healing Story Alliance
Youth, Educators, and Storytellers
Workshops:
Dilemma Stories for Democracy, Empathy, and
Personal Growth
Adding a Second Language to Your Tales
Community Youth Story Journey
Partnering Oral story crafting for practicing
not ready yet stories
The First Steps: A beginners guide to
storytelling
August: Public speaking and presentation
September: Storytelling Festival of Oklahoma. State
conference that includes workshops to include but not
limited to:
Personal Narrative, Culture and Myth
Rhythm This and Melody That
Finding Your Own Voice
October: Spooky Tales. This story concert provides a

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venue for apprentices to tell stories in a stage

performance.
November: Native American Month: This is an
opportunity for apprentices to tell tribal stories at
educational institutions.
December: Types of Storytelling: Folktalkes, folklore,
fairytales, Myths, Legends and Lore.
January: How storytelling is used today
Digital storytelling
Voice overs
February: Love Stories. This story concert provides a
venue for apprentices to tell stories in a stage
performance.
Mach: Elders Performance. Tribal storytellers will tell
stories to tribal elders as a right of passage. It is the
elders who provide that seal of approval and
encouragement to the storyteller.
Online sessions:
The videos or sessions online can be accessed at
anytime during the 14-month course. The videos and
sessions provide additional FYI educational
materials. Videos and sessions include but not limited
to:
Master storyteller performance from other
Native American tribes
Webcast covering personal experiences from
Master storyteller while they apprenticed, stage
performances, and thoughts of wisdom.
All classroom trainings will be located at the
Chickasaw Cultural Center in Davis, Oklahoma. All
storytelling classes will take place at the Arts and
Humanities Black Box Theater in Ada, Oklahoma.
Conferences mentioned to attend change locations
year after year.
Facilitators:
Facilitators for the Chickasaw history classes are
recognized tribal historians who are involved in all
research details regarding Chickasaw history. The
facilitator is responsible for class materials and
preparation as these classes are offered to not only
Chickasaw citizens but the general public as well.

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Partnerships
: Facilitator,
Learners,
and
Administrato
rs

Facilitators for all storytelling sessions taught in Ada,

Oklahoma will be taught by tribally recognized
Chickasaw storytellers. Instructors will have to
prepare for each session by collecting materials,
textbooks, and any technology needs prior to the start
of each class (minimum of two weeks prior).
Tribal Elders:
The Council of Elders will be involved at the end of the
14-month course but they will be made aware of
progress of each apprentice as well as invited to
attend classes and story concerts. Input from elders is
welcomed and appreciated as they share stories they
may have been taught as a young child.
Online Facilitators:
Online videos and sessions will include Master
storytellers from other Native American tribes.
Invitations will go out to all storytellers and from the
response of acceptance a schedule will be put
together for interviews, story concerts, and webcast.
Tribes to contact are: Choctaw, Seminole, Creek,
Cherokee, Navajo, Comanche, and others.
Technology:
A partnership will be made with the Video and Sound
department to ensure that all video and sound
equipment are in working order for capturing all
footage to be placed online.
IT:
A partnership will be made with the IT department to
ensure that all computers and telecommunications are
in working order to presenting PowerPoints,
teleconference, video conference, Skype, Face Time.
Apprentices
There is not an age limit to participate in the
Storytelling Apprentice course. What all potential
apprentices must understand is that this course takes
dedication. Apprentices are required to schedule their
required 10 hours a month with a Master storytellers,
enroll in classes, and be on time to all sessions.
Textbooks:

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Resources
and
Materials
Needed

Chikasha Stories Volume 1-3 by Glenda Galvan,

Master Storyteller
The Early Chickasaw Homeland by Dr. John
Dyson
Chickasaw Lives Volume 1-4 by Richard Green
Te Ata Chickasaw Storyteller: American Treasure
Collectors Edition by Richard Green
Chickasaw an Analytical Dictionary
Lets Speak Chickasaw Chikashshanompa
Kilanompoli
Chickasaw Removal by Daniel F. Littlefield Jr.,
Fuller L. Bumpers and Amanda L. Paige,

Resources:
Smartboard
Access to laptops with video/sound software for
digital storytelling
Whisper Room (recording voice overs)
Classrooms for storytelling sessions
Video camera/microphone
Access to Skype
Materials:
Instructor guide Storyteller instructors will
create a teaching guide to follow o prepare for
discussion, lectures, and activities.
Apprentice guide Each apprentice will be
provided a document listing goals and
objectives, class schedule, activities, and MOU
(Memo of Understanding) listing was is expected
of the apprentice and the Master storyteller.
Communicate the Plan
Monthly notices will be sent to apprentices informing
them as to what will be coming up regarding the
course. A list of classes available to enroll in will be
listed as well as the contact number to enroll.
October:
All promotions to include course application,
newspapers stories, and social media post will begin
to promote the acceptance of Storyteller Apprentice
applications.

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December:
Deadline for Storyteller Apprentice applications.
January:
Review of applications and contact to applicants that
have been accepted into course.
Planned
Implementat
ion

January (late):
Reminder of Storyteller Apprenticeship will begin
February 1st.
Also listed in the remind letter/email will be a list of
textbooks, smartphone applications and computer
software that will be used.
September:
Promote Spooky Tales Story Concert introducing
apprentices that will be participating.
January:
Promote Love Stories Story Concert introducing
apprentices that will be participating.
April:
A letter of congratulations will be sent to each
apprentice for completing the course. Letter will
include an invitation to be a part of the storytellers
recognized by the Chickasaw tribe.

Interest and
Commitment

Career opportunities
The skills taught throughout the course will
allow the apprentice an opportunity to have a
career in storytelling. This career would not
have to be with the Chickasaw Nation as a
tribally recognized storyteller but a career to be
a Master storyteller. Opportunities that can
come forward are storybook author, performer,
instructor, and voice-overs.

Relationships
Apprentices participating in the course will build
team-building skills, which will allow them to
support and encourage each other throughout
the course. Relationships will also be developed
between the Master storyteller and apprentice

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that can ensure success throughout the course.

Participants

Potential apprentices will complete an

application, which will include a narrative essay
as to why they want to be a part of the course.
Master storytellers will review applications and
essays and make a selection.
Accepted applicants will be contacted and
confirmation of participation will be made two
weeks prior to the start date.
Apprentices will sign a MOU (Memo of
Understanding) that will list all guidelines that
are expected of them as well as what the
course/instructors is responsible for providing.

In order to ensure the Apprentices are successful as

well as the course evaluations will be conducted
throughout the course. All Chickasaw history class
instructors are responsible for their own evaluation
but have agreed to share results with Master
storytellers. Data collected from evaluations will
ensure that goals and objectives are reached.
Formative
Assessments

Design Evaluation:
Chickasaw Master storytellers will invite other
Master storytellers to review the course design
prior to the course start date. Information
collected from evaluations will confirm if all
analysis phases, goals, and objectives are
reachable and that content can be understood
and easy to follow.

Class Evaluation
Evaluations will be conducted at the end of each
session.
Monthly reports will be written by both the
Master storyteller and Apprentice detailing
progress and what took place during that
months meeting.

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