NativeStoryTeller.com
Stella "Fichek" Long
405 949-2147
longstella@aol.com
Stella found her voice in storytelling following her retirement from Rose State College, Midwest City, OK. She was born in the woods in eastern Oklahoma and brought into the world by a Choctaw midwife who gave her the Indian name of Fichek Iskitini “smallest star” the moment of her birth.
Years later, his prediction came true. Eskunolubee's descendants left
their land and traveled, weary and despondent through foreign land.
Finally, they carefully crossed the blue waters of the Mountain Fork
River. They stood in awe of the beauty of this new land. Each family
hurriedly built a fire to warm before the sun went to the other side.
The long journey had ended but they were sad for leaving their homes in
Mississippi. Sorrow filled their hearts for those who were left behind
without a descent burial in unmarked graves somewhere along the trail. But
the children of Eskunolubee didn't look back very long in this new land of
Okla Homma "Red People."
The Choctaw people gathered in prayer for having survived the difficult
journey. They gathered for their worship service led by an elder of the
group. As the sun was sinking fast behind the mountains, they
blended their voices in harmony above the sounds of the roaring river.
When darkness came, the owl people looked down wondering, "Whoo, Whoo,
are these people?" They scolded the people for bringing fire into the
forest.
Maestro Cricket lifted his baton and his orchestra of insects accompanied
the Choctaw people with their fine music. Following many songs, the elder
dismissed them in prayer, but not a single person moved. They sat quietly
in their own thoughts.
Out of respect to the people, the maestro hushed his orchestra.
A lone white wolf, a protector and healer to those who believe, sat atop a
distant ridge and howled long and mournfully.
A mysterious fog emerged in the darkness of the night from between the
tall pines and came upon the people like a soothing salve. The healing had
begun. Their sadness and apprehension slowly left their wounded spirits
and replaced with a peace that passed understanding.
My father Dixon was a descendant of Eskunolubee and was born near the
Mountain Fork River near Eagletown.
I am the great great granddaughter of Eskunolubee.
I am of the Wolf Clan.
Fichek’s mountain
path was one of beauty as she walked alone at the age of six, talking with
her friends, the creatures of the wild in the Choctaw language. The
mountain was her playground. There were times when she’d forget to go
home until the night musicians, the insects, began tuning their
instruments.
Her life made a sudden
change when at the age of ten years old, she was sent away to an
orphanage. She lived there for seven years until she became ill with
pulmonary tuberculosis and was hospitalized for five years. Stella tells
of how she coped with having to watch her friends die from the disease or
from the complications of surgery. There was a time when she wanted to die
rather than to watch her friends being carried out of the hospital to the
funeral home. She describes the emotions, fear, hope and thoughts of the
patients.
Fichek writes children’s stories, getting her ideas from the animals and birds as she sits for hours in the solitary quietness of the lakeside observing animal behavior. She weaves a part of her life into these stories combined with Choctaw songs and sounds of the flute. Before she leaves the lakeside, the creatures are honored with a special melody from the flute for their help with the stories.
Tejas Storytelling Festival
Red River Storytelling
Chickasaw Nation
Lucky Me Ranch Storytelling
Summers in Santa Fe
Oklahoma Correctional Facility for Women
Oklahoma City Powwow
Churches
Retirement Homes
Universities
Public & Private Schools
OK Choctaw Tribal Alliances
Choctaw Nation
Native American Senior Center (featured every Monday)
Trained in the art of storytelling as a student in Oral Literature through the University of Oklahoma Continuing Education, Summers in Santa Fe.
Awarded Contemporary Storyteller of the Year, 2002, by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers Wordcraft is a national organization that promotes the works of Native American authors.
“We all appreciate
you because you combine history with legend. For that reason, you might be
considered to be a Tribal Treasury. We all enjoy your tales because they
are not only amusing, but they define the facts of our lives. Please keep
it up. Your stories uniquely describe the Chahta (Choctaw) past, and what
you expect it to be in the future. Chi pisa lachike.”
--- Ira “Stormy” Bryant,
Retired Attorney
"Estella
Long is an authentic voice of the Choctaw people. Her songs and stories
are like a glimpse into the long ago---and present day---reality of this
proud and quiet nation of Native Americans. Estella tells stories from the
traditions of the Choctaws, the funny character lesson animal tales that
young and older students enjoy. She also tells stories from her remarkable
life as a student at the Goodland Indian Boarding School and as a
tuberculosis patient at the Talihina Indian Hospital. A strong sense of
spiritualism permeates all of Estella's stories, but through every tale
her gentle humor and love for people shines through. Estella Long is a
funny storyteller, a powerful storyteller, and a breath of fine Oklahoma
air, bringing her unique aura with her wherever she
goes."
-- Tim Tingle, Choctaw
Storyteller, Author
and Instructor, Oral Literature
in Storytelling,
Summer in Santa Fe