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WHeN MOSeS AND I FIRST eNvISIONeD THIS collection, we did not realize how challenging it would be to convert oral tradition to print. Even though Moses, an artist renowned for his narrative pictures, and I, a word crafter, each possessed one of the core components of recorded story, at the same time we shared the same character flaw: a penchant for dreams that defied reality. Where the storyteller can illustrate with inflection and gesture, the writer struggles to infuse imagery into silent ink on cold paper. A storyteller is able to tailor the story for each new audience, whereas an artist’s paint dries and the story lives on only as it was first told. We held another trait in common: undying optimism. After we spent two years exploring the relationship of art and story, our collaboration began to gel and Whispers of the Ancients took form. With every turn of the page, Moses’ animated paintings and vignettes meshed seamlessly with the text to help elicit the breathless feeling a storyteller can engender. I cannot imagine a more congenial or dedicated coauthor than Moses. Whether I was his houseguest in Canada or we were engaged in one of our countless correspondences, he was always fully present and gave his creative best. Fortunately for this book, Moses and I had exceptional cohorts whose views of reality were a bit more grounded than ours. Moses’ friend, Karen Bester, worked with him in bringing the stories to life on canvas, as well as helping with logistical matters. My devoted mate, Lety Seibel, transcribed the text, advised and inspired, and maintained an undying belief in me and this project. Special recognition goes to the members of the Ojibwe community who supported this book project. The District School Board of Nibinamik (Summer Beaver), Moses’ band in northern Ontario, awarded him the grant that enabled him to coauthor this book. Two members of Wisconsin’s Sokaogon Ojibwe band graciously assisted wtih Ojibwe terms and proper names: vernadine G. Long (also known as Biiwaasinookwe or Stone-ofLight -that-Travels), a Bear clan Elder and Director of Cultural Preservation; along with Robert J. McGeshick Sr. (also called Anung, or Star), language instructor of the Bullhead clan. Acknowledgments If Moses and I were given the power to create our dream publisher, we’d be hard put to best the University of Michigan Press. They have treated our book with the conscientiousness of a caring midwife preparing for the birth of a child. We are deeply grateful for Senior Acquisitions Editor Ellen McCarthy who, enamored with Whispers from the onset, took it under her wing and competently guided it—and us—through the birthing process. Director Phil Pochoda’s solid support, along with the faculty board’s enthusiastic endorsement and the design and production departments’ professionalism, made the whole experience a thorough pleasure. Several others lent their valued talent and support to this endeavor. Katrina Joyner, our first-draft editor (and quite a storyteller herself), applied her innate feel for stories to help strike that elusive balance between readability and the unusual grammar usage that reflects the Native spirit of the stories. Editor Gloria Hendrickson, with help from Jessica Mansbacher, Susan Heatherfield, Glenn Helkenn, Jessica Leah Moss, Margaret Traylor, and Janet Parr, gathered the loose strands and wove them into the gilded word tapestry you now hold. The inspiration and creativity of graphics wizards Pat Bickner (A New Leaf Creative Services) and Russ Kuepper are responsible for the arresting book design. Both Moses and I feel honored to have been involved with such caring and creative people as these. ’Chi meegwetch (We are deeply grateful) to each of them for their part in crafting this book. There are many, many others who have played supporting roles, of whom we are also appreciative. Because this is intended to be a book of stories rather than a litany of accolades, we pray that our personal expressions of gratitude will suffice. Were it not for the undying spirit of story, perhaps Moses would be painting landscapes and I would be writing math books. This spirit has been kept alive by people such as xi Rosendo vargas and J. P. Harrington, who lived in the early part of the last century. At that time the Picuris Pueblo people of New Mexico were losing their stories as their children turned to radio and movies. Pueblo elder Rosendo vargas grew concerned and made a bold move: he left the Pueblo in 1926 and found J. P...

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