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[Allison]

Thomas Doty will be sharing traditional and original native stories, and Grandmother Agnes Baker-Pilgrim will be there to introduce him and say a few words. After all, it was her great aunt Frances Johnson who told traditional Takelma stories to the linguist Edward Sapir in 1906, so she is happy to hear Tom carry on the tradition. More information from Frances, as written up by Sapir, can be downloaded from the SOU Library's Southern Oregon Data Archives, http://soda.sou.edu/tribal.html

Storyteller Thomas Doty is nationally known for his impassioned performances of traditional and original native stories. He has released several recordings, including daily and weekly broadcasts on public radio, and has received a number of awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the national American Indian Program. Doty is well known for his series of Doty and Coyote books. He has been called "One of the best of Oregon's storytellers" and "a master of his art."

He also has a really cool website with a wonderful collection of photos of Aggie and the ceremonies that she has got going: www.dotycoyote.com. And a large number (38) of his very well written stories are also there, including "All Night Salmon Leap the Falls." Look for new editions of these soon.

Thomas knows this area as few others, and you can feel it when you hear him talk. Drawing on family knowledge from when various branches of the family followed trails to Oregon and married Indians, Tom's father took him to the Table Rocks and to Ti'lomikh (the ancient Salmon Ceremony site) when he was a boy. Takelma elder Chuck Jackson (Cow Creek) told him about the Bear Rock on Lower Table Rock, where the changing of the seasons is celebrated. That's why we know that the Bear Rock has now been moved by the BLM and turned the wrong direction. For more info, see the website at, www.dotycoyote.com/ceremonies/index.html Stay tuned for news about how things will be set aright.

The storytelling will take place in the Meese Meeting Room 305, part of the Hannon Library's Siskiyou Views Lecture Series. Free of charge. Recommended for ages 6 and older.

Thomas will be interviewed on JPR's Jefferson Exchange at 9:00 am on February 25, talking about native myth, language and sense of place.

Thomas will also be telling stories on Saturday, March 15, 1:00 pm, at the Ruch Branch Library, 7919 Highway 238, Ruch, OR 97530, as part of the Annual Meeting of the Ruch Friends of the Library. Contact Janis Mohr-Tipton (541) 899-7438