Storytelling at Macaulay Church

Telling the stories behind the artworks

The current featured artist at Macaulay Heritage Church is Tkarahkwénhas, who also painted the murals in the interior walls of the church. The exhibit is part of A Path Forward, a permanent and evolving selection of art co-curated by Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na (the Language and Cultural Centre in Tyendinaga), the Downie Wenjack Fund and The County Museums, and is intended to foster the process of Truth and Reconciliation in the County as well as to provide a space for reflection, education and guidance with support from the Indigenous community. Tkarahkwénhas is also a teacher of the Kanyen’ké:ha (Mohawk) language and she created a series of watercolour paintings for this exhibit based on the stories she was telling her young students. “The paintings depict some of the stories that were most favoured by the kids,” she said. “Storytelling is such a valuable way to share our ways of being and our teachings and it really helps to nurture our children in an environment that takes them away from what’s happening in current life.”

Last Thursday, storyteller Aweraná:wen told some of the stories behind the paintings. The first story was about a hunter who was asked go hunting in the forest at a time when his tribe had no food. He set off with his two loyal dogs and as they enter the forest the dogs start behaving strangely. They perceive a great evil in the forest, and tell the hunter that he must run away and go back to his village. As he runs back, he turns to see his dogs being consumed by “The Flying Head”, a being with hair like fire, bright yellow eyes and a gaping mouth.

Aweraná:wen’s style of storytelling kept the audience of about 20 or so completely riveted, and he had their full attention. He said the story was not only about the fear and respect for fire, it was also about the fidelity of the hunter’s dogs. Another of his stories was about the “Hoof-woman”, a being that took on the appearance of a beautiful woman with long flowing black hair, but had strange looking feet. She sometimes scolds wayward children, but also occasionally comes to their aid. In one story with an amusing twist she makes short work of would-be hoodlums and also delivers toilet paper to a young boy in dire need. Aweraná:wen said that the stories are not always set in some distant past, but can be used to impart lessons in the modern day. “The world can be a very scary place, and we have to confront the danger to ensure we can protect ourselves from it by keeping it everpresent. Being aware is a form of strength.” He said he doesn’t really see himself as a storyteller, only that he enjoys sharing stories with the children. “I like teaching young children to live according to our ways. The stories fuel the imagination so they can see the world through the eyes of our own stories and experience it that way,” he said. “It is a way of living by moral principles. It’s living in a way that builds each other up and treating each other with kindness and respect.”