SSBMI Language Department

Beeteyihí - November 8, 2023

In November 2023, the SSBMI Language Department and Exhibits & Collections Center hosted a Beeteyihí (Storytime) event where we shared Nisenan stories with the SSBMI Tribal Membership. During this event, participants created their own artwork illustrating scenes from the story "May" (Salmon), as told by Tom Cleanso. We created this webpage in order to share audio recordings of Language Department staff reciting the Nisenan-language stories, as well as to share participant's artwork and supplementary resources from this event.

You can access materials pertaining to the three stories we shared by following the links below.

Hoyyahám Totoyká (The First Chickens), as told by William Joseph (a.k.a. Bill Joe)

Booyéem Mowí K’ut’í Méyt’omatoy (Jackrabbit Gave Antlers to Deer), as told by William Joseph (a.k.a. Bill Joe)

May (Salmon), as told by Tom Cleanso

Boonohó ehé daak’ábe mi? (Do you want to see artwork?)

In the story "May" (Salmon), Tom Cleanso explains how two brothers transformed into May when they were tossed into the river, causing salmon's meat to gain its red color and causing the river (which was originally still) to flow because of the red flickerbands that they wore. During this event, participants illustrated scenes from the story as well as other artwork inspired by the story using colored pencil.

Below, you can find an Artwork Gallery containing some of the amazing illustrations that our Beeteyihí participants created!

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Min boonohó ébe mi? (Do you see your artwork?)

If you would like a digital copy of your artwork, please contact the SSBMI Language Department at Language@ssband.org.

Beeteyihí daak’ábe mi? (Do you want to share a story?)

At Beeteyihí (Storytime), we share stories that were told by both past and contemporary storytellers. At this event, after we listened to the story "Hoyyahám Totoyká" (The First Chickens), in which Bill Joe describes the early people's first encounters with a new, "surprising" animal, we encouraged our youth participants to share their own stories about their favorite animals too!

If you have a story that you would like to share, or if you would like to know more about our efforts or have any questions, please contact the SSBMI Language Department at language@ssband.org and the SSBMI Exhibits & Collections Center at ecc@ssband.org.

Kɨɨpetím nisek’é mi! Sitapáy’omís! (We thank you! Take care of yourself!)