Share a story or a tune at INAFA

Duke Addicks, one of the presenters at the upcoming INAFA Convention, posted this message on the Montana Listserv:

"I’m Duke Addicks and I’m guiding a process at the conference of sharing stories and tunes. We’ll start at my general session entitled Kokopelli Story and Tune Swap, where, in the tradition of the Giveaway, and in remembrance of that traveling storyteller and fluteplayer Kokopelli, we’ll begin to give each other tunes to play and stories to tell without restriction, in the hope that the tunes and stories will be remembered, replayed and retold long after we are forgotten. Those who want to just listen are more than welcome!

I’m an eagle expert and the “official” storyteller for the Mdewakanton Indian Community of Mendota, and I’ll start off by giving you a true story you can retell about a Mdewakanton Indian boy who played his courting flute to catch a golden eagle. The story contains one of my All Nations Dance flute tunes you might like to learn (I’ll bring copies in tab, but you don’t have to do that for your tune). Then I’ll talk briefly about giving away stories and tunes and the similarities between tunes and stories. Then I’ll turn the mike over to you. Yes you!

Anyone who wants to share a flute story (a story involving a flute, a flute player or something about a NA flute) or give away a tune that others can play on the flute, will have an opportunity to do so. There will be a sign up sheet at the registration table when you arrive at the conference. Those who want to just listen are more than welcome!

Since there won’t be enough time for everyone who wants to participate to share their story or tune at the general session, we’re making arrangements to continue the telling and playing in a more or less organized but informal way at specific times and locations during the rest of the conference where we won’t conflict with other programs.

So bring a story: it can be anything from a traditional story about the boy who played the first flute to the dog who ate your flute. Remember a story is about conflict and resolution, about someone who discovered they had a problem and overcame difficulty to resolve the problem by themselves. And/or bring a tune. A tune is the same: tension is created then resolved. Just as you practice playing a tune, practice telling your story out loud a few times. Just as you recognize when a tune is over, recognize when your story ends. Then stop, and enjoy the applause.

Your story may be almost true but not necessarily. Your tune, likewise.

For more about my flute tunes see my web page where I recently posted my ideas about Metis/Model/Mdewakanton flute music in some detail (and would appreciate feedback) http://www.dukeaddicksstoryteller.com/