Summary:

American Indian storytellers and singers from California and Hawaii joined on Saturday for a cultural exchange at the Palm Springs Public Library.

The theme of this year's Southern California Indian Storytelling Festival is "Bridging the Pacific with Story & Song," and the event featured young and old storytellers from several tribes, including the Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, Chumash, Yokuts, Serrano, and Ohlone, as well as Owana Salaza, A Hawaiian who is well-versed in his native history and music. There was also an appearance by the Desert Cahuilla Bird Singers.

Indian storytelling is undergoing a renaissance, said Kat High, of Topanga, a member of the Hupa tribe and an adviser to the California Indian Storytelling Association.

"There's a lot of interest in storytelling right now ," said High. "Events like this get young people involved and encourage elders to tell the stories they learned as youngsters."

Subjects Covered: education, storytelling festivals

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