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“We
are clay people. We are a people of miracles.”
Tingle has arranged these “stories from Red People memory”
in chronological order, from the days when most Choctaws were still
living in Mississippi, to the Trail of Tears into Okla Homma (an event
that “lingers deep in the memory bank of every Choctaw”),
to modern day tales of Tingle’s own family. Truthfulness, generosity,
respect for elders, and otherworldly occurrences are hallmarks of traditional
Choctaw narratives. These stories give readers a sense of what it is
to be Choctaw. “Chata hapia hoke!” Read an Excerpt courtesy of Cinco Puntos Press
Reviews "The
good news for readers is that these written versions of Tim's tales
lose none of the gentle intensity of his memorable oral tellings. Their
subjects range from the Trail to Tears to memories of his own childhood.
. . Walking the Choctaw Road, like one of those old Choctaw
chants that kept the people's feet going along the long journey, will
stay with you and lend you some of its strength. Cross the river with
these stories—they will give you safe passage." Tingle
is as skilled a storyteller as a collector. His compilation of Choctaw
folklore is a pleasure to read, from introduction to final tale. His
writing pulls readers into each tale, whether the theme is more personal
essay or true legend with a captivating plot. Poetic
language and a compelling but quiet voice honor the Native American
traditions for both the native and the non-native reader. Check out customer reviews on the Amazon website. Return to Walking the Choctaw Road Links
About the Author An Oklahoma Choctaw and a collector of Choctaw oral literature, Tingle was the recipient of the 2003 John Henry Faulk Award, given by the Tejas Storytelling Association for "outstanding contributions to the art of storytelling." Tingle has performed across America and toured Germany presenting Native American songs and legends to American military children and their families. Four of Tingle's audio recordings have won awards from Storytelling World. He was selected by the Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers as "Contemporary Storyteller of the Year" in 2002. Walking the Choctaw Road was a finalist for the 2004 Oklahoma Book Award. He resides in Canyon Lake, Texas. Return to Walking the Choctaw Road Links
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