Phoenix Legends: A (Pima) Christmas Story

[Storytelling & Song at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass]
Photo: Gerrie Summers

 The Storytelling and Song program at a Sheraton desert resort follows the traditions of an Indian ancient culture

There is something magical about the Christmas season in Phoenix, Arizona. Perhaps it is the charming contrast of cacti draped with festive holiday lights sparkling in the deep, darkness of the warm Sonoran desert at night. Or it may be the mystical feel of being on sacred Native American land.

It is also a perfect time to visit and experience a tradition never before shared with the general public. Since 2005, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort  located in Chandler, a city in Maricopa County, has featured the Storytelling & Song program to share the ancient culture of the Pima and Maricopa tribes with its guests.

Storytelling is an important and valued part of Pima and Maricopa heritage. History is passed down through oral traditions and winter is the only season where storytelling is permitted among the Pima and Maricopa people.

Storytelling & Song takes place in late November through mid-March. It begins in the early evening, taking advantage of the cozy light of a crackling fire inside a large pit, encircled by chairs and created especially for this program.

Among the Pima and Maricopa people, stories were used to convey moral lessons. These stories began to lose their importance when Christianity was introduced -- or, more accurately, imposed upon the tribes as the moral authority. Therefore stories were retold as children's tales, with the moral lessons still intact. Several of the stories and legends are centered on the creation of man and feature desert wildlife as important, mythical characters.

Featured storytellers are members of the Gila River Indian Community, who tell three short stories based on Pima or Maricopa legend and lore, as well as personal stories about their experiences growing up on the surrounding tribal lands.

During a visit back in 2007, Tim Terry, who is a Pima, shared stories taught to him by his grandmother. One was the Pima creation story, which seems to have a number of variations, I guess depending upon who is telling the tale.

Another was the Tree Story, in which an adult tree teaches its child about being a tree. "Make sure you dig your roots deep in the earth, so you'll be grounded and stretch your arms to the sun to grow. You need water for nourishment," the tree tells the child. "It's a big responsibility to be a tree."

As a youth, Terry was taught that (humans) should live in harmony with plants and nature. You need this balance or you'll develop a "sickness," he was told. "You need to be in balance -- how you talk, how you see things, do things. If you shoot something, you thank it for its life because it is giving you life with its life. Thank the plant for planting or thank the plant for giving life to help you live."

There are lessons in each story that is told, he explained, and is the way the children are taught about life. "Everything in life has a story and everything has a song," he said as he concluded the program. "We have to be open to see it and hear it." He then took a handmade flute out of his bag and began to play his grandmother's song, a gentle sound that seemed to blend with a subtle breeze, the caressing rays of a setting sun, taking us to an ancient, spiritual place.

It was called "You Are Always Welcome to My Home."

The Storytelling & Song program is now in its ninth year and will return for the winter at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, opening with a ceremonial blessing led by Community Elder Robert Stone on Thursday, December 4.

The program takes place from 6pm – 7pm Thursday – Saturday evenings.  Storytelling & Song is complimentary to all Resort and Resort restaurant guests.  The program ends with a closing blessing on the last day of winter, Saturday March 21.

For further information:

•               Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort
•               Gila River Indian Community
•               Visit Phoenix  Website of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau
•               Chandler, Arizona - City of Chandler website, describes the facilities, sights, attractions and cultural traditions of the city.




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