Stories can take on many different forms as they are shared and passed on from one generation to another. Reflecting the spirit of the culture of their origin, it is essential that peoples’ stories are given space to not only remain alive, but to thrive.

Cultural LINKS: Leveraging Indigenous Niches through Knowledge and Storytelling is one of Cartwheel Foundation Inc.’s initiatives to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of indigenous communities through storytelling. It draws inspiration from two common practices that have been observed in Cartwheel’s partner communities: nurturing safe spaces for storytelling and integrating expressive arts into its practice. Launched in August 2021 and continuing on to 2022, the Phase 1 of this project is in collaboration with partner Sama-Bajau communities in Parañaque and Zamboanga, with support from development partner, J. Kawakami Trust Foundation.

 

Story drafting, translation and illustration

Multiple kwentuhan sessions or story circles were facilitated with a selected group of Sama-Bajau community members beginning August 2021 to listen to individual and community experiences and stories. Members of the Cartwheel Team then culled common themes from the narrations shared, and drafted a total of six stories appropriate for young learners. Stories originally written out in Tagalog, were translated to Sinama between the months of December 2021 to January 2022. Initial drafting of full-color illustrations to accompany the stories were coordinated with artists around the same time as well.

 

Story validation

Throughout February 2022, Cartwheel met with Sama-Bajau parents residing in Parañaque and Zamboanga online to validate the six stories drafted. Part of the validation process was going through the learning modules which included art activities that helped to deepen understanding of each of the stories’ themes.

Their creations reflected what they value as a cultural community: vibrant colors in a malong show their love for celebration, varying boat designs show their affinity to the sea, the pagi or stingray reminds them of their origin story as part of the Sama people.

 

Storytelling workshop

On May 4, 2022, Sama-Bajau parents and community teachers residing in Barangay San Dionisio, Parñaque City gathered at their local activity center for an in-person storytelling workshop with Rey Bufi, founder of The Storytelling Project, as resource person.

With the primary goal to build confidence in discovering the storyteller in each one, participants delighted in exploring the many creative ways to engage children through storytelling: with just the voice or one’s body parts, or very simple techniques such as cut-and-tell or creating hand-drawn illustrations on paper.

 

Printing and launch

The complete compilation of the six Sama-Bajau stories each with accompanying art modules was printed in July 2022. Entitled Agbeya-beya Palaran Kaut, Sama-samang Paglalakbay, the first in the L.A.H.I. Book Series (Learning through Art, Heritage, and Cultural Identity), printed copies will then be distributed among Sama-Bajau teachers and learners of Cartwheel’s Education and Child Development Program, residing in Parañaque and Zamboanga in November 2022.

 

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Cartwheel is grateful to the Sama-Bajau parents and community members for their willingness to take part in the entire process, to the dedicated community teachers who helped in the story circles and validation sessions, to the generous development partner, J. Kawakami Trust Foundation who has given support to see this project come to fruition. Much gratitude goes to the many people who have been involved in keeping Sama-Bajau stories alive – all united in the shared hope of co-creating relevant education for generations of indigenous learners to come.