A Healing Narrative

Abstract

Introduction. Robert Sam was invited to participate in this conference/workshop because of his storytelling skills. He has worked hard to perfect his art as a Tlingit storyteller. Recently, he has performed in a wide variety of settings, including international festivals in Japan and Scotland. Like several other presentations, this one is actually a story within a story. The climax of his presentation is the traditional Tlingit story of “How Spirit Came to All Things,” which he tells very skillfully in the role of the master storyteller. Yet equally important is his own personal story of how becoming a storyteller was, for him, a key to recovery and healing. Although he devotes significant time and energy to restoring and preserving Tlingit burial sites—a task he views as a lifelong vocation—one has the distinct impression that being a storyteller continues to be an important healing element in his life. WHA