Join Wyandot storyteller Richard Zane Smith as he tells two stories, one of which will be geared towards children and one towards all ages. A related craft will also be available. We are excited to host the event on Zoom and Facebook Live on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at 11 am CST! A Facebook account is not required to view the event.
The kid’s tale is about the trickster Fox who first fooled the Crawdads to bring a bunch home to eat then tricked his cousin the Red Fox, which almost made him lose his big bushy tail! Afterward will be a Wyandot story of a gambling game that almost led to war.
Download the craft guide below to get the supplies to make a Raccoon Mask!
Sǫhahiyo (he has a good path) Richard Zane Smith
Born in 1955, raised in Missouri, Richard grew up in a spiritual creative home where artistic expression was cultivated by scattered pencils and paper on the coffee table in the evenings while his parents read stories to the five children. His mother always encouraged all of them to be proud of their rich Wyandot heritage. Richard’s been a self-employed full-time ceramic artist since 1984. He’s active in Wyandot/Wendat language and culture revitalization, longhouse ceremonies, and spent seven years teaching Wyandot language and storytelling in the Wyandotte public schools. He is continually holding pottery workshops for First Nations peoples including Wyandot, Seneca/Cayuga, Mi’kmaq, Shawnee, Oneida, and Wendat and Innu in Canada. He enjoys telling Wyandot stories to children and passing on what he’s learned, in bow making, rattle making, and other indigenous art forms that tie people to their ancestors. He’s been fortunate to be invited to New Zealand for three different indigenous artists’ gatherings and cherishes those inspiring gatherings with those of similar passion. A dream of his is to see all indigenous art traditions restored. Richard says ”I believe all artists are stronger when they're grounded in their own ancestral art forms first.” Though he will not compete in Art Competitions, He has work in many major museums across the country, and in a number of books and publications. Richard was nominated and honored with a First Peoples Fund Community Spirit Award for storytelling and voluntary service to his Native American community. Richard is an enrolled member of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas (not federally recognized) and an IACB certified Indian Artisan.
Interested in learning more about Richard Zane Smith, the Wyandot/Wendat language, or traditional pottery techniques? Here are some resources!