By José Chávez | Contributing Columnist José Chávez, a Riverside resident, is an award-winning bilingual poetry author for children. His new book is “Dancing Fruit, Singing Rivers.” (Courtesy of José Chávez) Indigenous peoples have enjoyed a strong storytelling tradition that connects us to our past and present and serves to preserve our culture. This tradition creates a foundation of stories and deepens our relationship with the land we come from and all the plants and animals that reside there. My grandfather, Pedro Nuñez was born on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in 1892. Previously, life became unbearable for my great-grandparents, who lived in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Even peaceful Apaches were viewed as enemies on both sides of the border. Family tradition says that they asked for asylum in Mescalero, which was granted in 1883. Myths and tales were common among Pueblo storytellers and Apache bands, including Mescalero, Chiricahua and Jicarilla. These stories included tales of cultural heroes who fought and defeated monsters long ago and made the world safe for people. Some tales are called “Coyote Stories” as they are known to be tricksters who violate accepted social norms, but sometimes can benefit humans. Other stories may include deer, foxes and crows. I can imagine my grandfather and his many brothers and sisters listening to stories being told around a campfire when he was young. The purpose of such stories is not merely to entertain but also to teach moral lessons on how Apache children should behave and show consequences for foolish behavior. There are strict rules about when and how someone can tell particular stories. Respectfully, I will not repeat any of these. Fortunately, the well-known Chicano author Victor Villaseñor also listened to stories from his father, whose mother passed stories down from her father, a native of México. In his story, “Little Crow To The Rescue, El Cuervito Al Rescate,” the boy attempts to catch crows that dive down to steal chicken feed he’s sprinkled in the yard but fails to do so. His father, Papá, tells a story about Father Crow and Little Crow, who rest on a branch after a farmer and son planted a cornfield. He says that, long ago, the two crows noticed that humans are very smart and help crows by bringing water and feeding them seeds in their fields. The Crows show gratitude when they fly overhead and sing their best songs to tell people they love them a lot. But humans don’t respond in kind. The farmer and his son come across the field, and Father Crow notes that humans are very tricky. He says that the farmer bends over, picks up a rock, and hides it by the side of his leg. Then, the human will continue to come closer, and they must fly away quickly, “Because he’ll get close enough to throw a rock at us.” He goes on to relate that humans are the most awkward and defenseless animals in all the world because they can’t run fast like deer, don’t have large claws or teeth, and can’t fly like crows do. Humans are jealous of animals because they forget how animals taught them to care for their young, how to plant corn and how to hunt. However, Little Crow observed the humans and came up with a bright idea. Whenever he sees a human approaching, before he can pick up a rock, “I’m going to fly off as fast as I can.” He reasoned that a human may already have a rock in his hand as he approached. From that day forward, all crows acknowledged that they must fly away when they see humans. They shared this message joyfully, cawing in their best voices over all the land. Now, all over the world, birds take flight whenever a human approaches them. Papá tells his son, “This is why you can never catch a crow.” Villaseñor has written a memorable crow story for children to read, enjoy and be inspired to learn about the connection between humans and birds. He passes on his family storytelling tradition with beauty, grace, humor and wisdom. The illustrations are bold and colorful, and the story won the Lacapa Spirit Prize in 2005. Related Articles News | When writing, stories of abuse demand writers’ special care News | Writing can draw on strength and emotions from past experiences News | Don’t mistake procrastination for suspense in novels News | After four years, ‘Riverside Women Creating Change’ has been published News | Search for quotations in writing that you can connect with Other traditional stories which can be read to children include “Coyote and the Sky, How the Sun, Moon, and Stars Began,” by Emmet “Shkeme” Garcia (Santa Ana Pueblo), “Raven, A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, by Gerald McDermott, “The Boy Who Lived with the Seals” by Rafe Martin (Chinook legend), and “Where Wonder Grows,” by Xelena González, (native and family traditions, Tomás Rivera Mexican American Book Award). Allyson Jeffredo, a local poet, writer, and educator, says storytelling yields “a connection that is so deep it has the power to change us, to set us free.” Let’s share that amazing power with our children. José Chávez is a poet, educator, and consultant who has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He also teaches a Writing for Children Workshop for Inlandia.