S2, E10: Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera, Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate, Chickasaw Composer

03/10/22 • 95 min

“Chickasaw legend tells of a girl who is teased by other children and named Loksi’—Turtle—for her slowness. Upon the counsel of a river, she goes to live in the forest. There, she finds hospitality among the turtle people. One day, the god of the turtles asks her to tell her fellow humans to treat turtles with respect and kindness, and gives her a gift of turtle shells filled with pebbles and seeds to bring back with her. The rattles were adopted by the people of Loksi’ and used to accompany dances and ceremonies, a reminder to treat the natural world with care.”* (from interactive.wttw.com) As a former opera singer with a music degree, I’m ecstatic about today’s Native ChocTalk episode! Here we have something unprecedented - an opera in an American Indian language (Chickasaw), by an American Indian Composer (Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate), and we all should be celebrating this enormous breakthrough in Native arts! In this episode, Jerod discusses with me (like the music nerds we are): · How there aren’t rules set up yet around how spoken and sung Chickasaw may differ. (In traditional operas with languages such as French and Italian, etc., there are often rules about the differences between spoken and sung.) · The challenges around composing in a difficult language, paired with an extremely demanding genre such as opera, to complete a work that has never been attempted before. This requires a modern Chickasaw speaker (Joshua Hinson) who interprets and translates the words into text, as well as a Dramateur/Librettest (libretto = the wording in an opera), Lyla Palmer, partnering with a Composer such as Jerod who has vision and determination to see this opera to fruition. And voila – you now have something unique and beautiful. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements, as this opera is most likely going live November of 2022 at UMass Amherst! Three cheers for these talented folks, as well as the singers! · Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate: Composer · Tianhui Ng: Conductor · Lokosh (Josh Hinson): Interpreter/Translator · Margaret Wheeler: Costume Design Find and follow Jerod Tate here: · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerodtatecomposer · Website: https://jerodtate.com/ *https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2021/11/23/jerod-impichchaachaaha-tate All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/ Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

Previous Episode

S2, E9: ’Nothing About Us Without Us’: Nancy Tecumseh Mason (Choctaw) Empowering Our Native Youth

Although she’s Choctaw, my guest, Nancy Tecumseh Mason is immersed within her husband and children’s tribe (Muscogee Nation). And for years now, Nancy has relentlessly poured her time and energy into supporting the youth of the tribe as Director of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Services. In this episode, you’ll hear about Mvskoke Nation Youth Services: • This program is created by youth for youth, and “Nothing about us without us” is the motto that empowers these youth to make decisions and to have a voice at the table from day one. • Check out Mvskoke artists, including some pieces from these talented youth, where you can even purchase some of their items! https://www.mvskokeyouth.com/mvskokeartists You’ll also learn about: • The story of her dad and her Uncle Amos who both had an eye for Nancy’s mother • The many spellings and versions of the Muscogee name • Nancy isn’t related to Tecumseh, the Shawnee Warrior Chief we’ve read about in history books, but we do talk about the historical rhyme that could correct the way many of us say, “Tecumseh”. How do YOU say this name? Mvskoke Nation Youth Services: • Website: https://www.mvskokeyouth.com/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MvskokeYouth • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvskokeyouth/ All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/ Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

Next Episode

S2, E11: “When Past Meets Present: Jake Tiger (Seminole)"

“Be proud of who you are because your existence is a resistance against cultural genocide.” - Jake Tiger, Seminole He’s the Seminole from Seminole, Oklahoma who works for the Seminole Nation. Can he even get more Seminole? Meet Jake Tiger, y’all! In addition to being a Seminole Jake is also: • A subject matter expert on and creates/sews/crafts Seminole textiles and traditional garments: o Did you know in the old days, it cost 16 deer hides to buy 1 flintlock rifle and 1 to 2 deer hides for 1 yard of calico fabric? o Hear about how Jake’s grandpa was the leading expert in Seminole textiles and revelation that came to Jake upon his grandpa’s death • An actor in films and commercials. Check him out in Killers of the Flower Moon, Reservation Dogs and more. In Reservation Dogs, see if you can find him in Season 1, episode 4 – he tells a funny story about something he did while on set. Listen to also find out which character he was forced to play on a show when he lost in rock, paper, scissors. • Someone you’d really want to know if the world came to an end, because as his ancestors before him, he knows the Native way to live in nature. He shares about: o How bear intestines are good for bow string o How to use bear grease o Flint knapping o Brain tanning, which came with a warning to not eat while you’re listening to this episode. “You’ll never look at strawberry milk the same again.” – Jake Tiger • A descendent of 2 war chiefs – Black Hawk (Sac and Fox) and Osceola • He’s like a capybara (listen to the episode to find out why he says so) All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/ Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast