Miss Leeora White, Seneca, Turtle clan, enthralled students at Gowanda Elementary School earlier this month when she visited to share some traditional Native American tales with Gowanda Central School District’s Panther family.
Clad in a customary ribbon skirt, White – a 2014 graduate of Salamanca City Central School District – spoke to dozens of Panthers in Kindergarten through fourth grade on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, as she kicked off her storytelling journey via the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum’s participation in the Creatives Rebuild New York grant.
Inspired by her grandfather, Duwayne “Duce” Bowen, the author of “One More Story” and “A Few More Stories,” White is working to follow in his footsteps to share “supernatural tales told by Senecas for Senecas” to a wider audience of all ages.
“I’m hoping to bring oral tradition back to our communities,” says White. “It’s always been a big part of our culture and I want to inspire the next generation to have the courage to share and learn and continue the tradition of sharing these stories.” “I’m so happy and grateful to be here,” says White. “And all the students were such wonderful listeners. We want our stories to live on, so it is really inspiring to see how engaged they were.”
For more information about Miss White and the efforts of Creatives Rebuild New York, visit GoodMedicineCreatives.com or follow Good Medicine Creatives.
