Storyfest Workshop Turns Family Heirlooms into Treasured Stories

Contributed by Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tech present Orcas Storyfest from Aug. 4-8 with multiple events and varied venues. Telling from the Family Treasures is a special workshop offered Friday, Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. Donations on a sliding scale, up to $25, are appreciated.

Recently Nancy and I took several months along with relatives clearing out the family treasures of her mother, who died last Fall.

It was a daunting task — throwing out the unwanted piles of knick-knacks, making many trips to the Salvation Army for donations, giving away items, and snatching up the valuables (for those of you who’ve ever dealt with disgruntled siblings over heirlooms you know the anxiety it produces).

Once all the relatives left, there were moments in quiet reflection, when Nancy was able to peruse through photographs, old jewelry, sweaters and coats, and even handwritten notes from her mother.  Anyone who’s ever lost a loved one knows the flood of memories and life’s experiences that are locked in these items.

What stories lay hidden in an old piece of lace?  What tales can be told holding an antique comb?  Who are the strangers in the photographs that are standing next to loved ones, suspended in time… now all but a mystery?  What stories would they tell if they were alive?

With the resurgence of interest in family genealogies, histories, and archiving, there are plenty of tools and media to preserve these things. Yet, one of the most valuable sources of preserving the memoirs is still good old- fashioned, time-tested, storytelling, one of the oldest language arts in the world.

Doug Banner, live and on camera, telling a story to Orcas Islanders. Banner will be the featured presenter at a workshop Friday, Aug. 7, on turning mementos into stories.

This coming Friday, Orcas Storyfest will offer islanders and visitors a chance to re-ignite memoirs, personal and family histories — the foundation for great stories and storytelling through a special workshop: Telling from the Family Treasures.  As many islanders have off-island parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren visiting over the summer, why not explore the richness of your shared heritage through storytelling?

This workshop requires no special theater skill, nor complex genealogical software… merely a simple object or two… or more!: a family photo, heirloom, hand-me-down or even an everyday household object used to stimulate the stories within families.

For example, a simple sewing thimble (something that may seem arcane and obsolete to most young people) may prompt a family story about one’s ancestors immigrating to America with only a few objects in a suitcase (a thimble!).  Or a family portrait may inspire talk about the siblings’ early childhood relationships, a favorite sister (or a favorite prank pulled on a favorite sister!)

As a result of re-igniting our family’s histories and stories, Eth-Noh-Tec is currently embarking upon a epic writing project that will include live storytelling performances slated for next year’s season of storytelling festivals.  The family history project will document the story of Nancy’s family’s  experiences as Chinese-American immigrants.  So few people realize that the Chinese were founders of the fishing industry in Monterey County over 100 years ago.  Family treasures along with much research will deepen this storytelling project.

The Telling from the Family Treasures workshop can launch you into family and personal stories as deep as you want to go.  In this two-hour workshop, professional storyteller Doug Banner will conduct a series of processes using ordinary objects (you supply) that will lead participants not only on a journey down memory lane, but perhaps to an entire road map to guide you further into family legacies.

Banner is the founder of the Bellingham Storytelling Guild, and has produced a number of community storytelling projects, including conducting story interviews that documented stories of entire communities.

The workshop will take place on Friday afternoon, Aug 7, at 1 p.m. at the Orcas Senior Center in Eastsound.  Donation of $5-$25 sliding scale.

Bring a simple treasure, a pad and pencil for jotting down recollections and be ready to explore memories and the wonderful stories your treasures invoke. .  At the end of the workshop you’ll have plenty of gems of stories to share with your relatives over the next Barbecue!

All proceeds will be used support the food and travel fund for the visiting storytellers of Orcas Storyfest. For more information, call 376-8705.