Voices from Pejuhutazizi: Dakota Stories and Storytellers is a writing project I started many years ago while visiting with my great aunt Cerisse.

Nestled within our visits, I learned the importance of a self-published book she wrote years back, titled, Short Stories and History of Dakota People (Sioux) - a collection of writings by her father, Fred Pearsall.

Grandpa Waŋbdiska’s writings held old Dakota stories and the life of my great great-grandmother, Taṡina Susbeca Wiŋ. 

With Cerisse’s encouragement, I would rewrite the piece, long out of print. However, she died two weeks shy of her 101st birthday, long before I would fulfill my commitment. Having taken 20 years to finally complete, the collection of stories added another generation of storytelling - that of Dekṡi Super’s voice, as he shares his own memories and stories he heard growing up at Pejuhutazizi K’api. Combined, these stories have brought me deep connections and a stronger sense of belonging.

Voices from Pejuhutazizi: Dakota Stories and Storytellers is a collection of stories across five generations within our family. This book celebrates storytellers, their stories, and the important role of storytelling.

Grasshopper Girl, a children’s book is an outgrowth of my research on storytelling. The story includes a Dakota tale of Uŋktomi (spider), one of the trickster stories my mother heard growing up. It is embedded within story, weaving aspects of her childhood experiences with storytelling in a contemporary format. Grasshopper Girl demonstrates the importance of storytelling and teaches and celebrates Dakota language.

Highly Recommended!

Grasshopper Girl was reviewed by American Indians in Children's Literature, receiving a review status of highly recommended. Dr. Debbie Reese, Nambé Pueblo and Dr. Jean Mendoza of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books.

Grasshopper Girl was featured as one of Nick Jr.’s children’s books to celebrate Native American Heritage Month!

Evokes healing, reconciling, reclaiming and celebrating marginalized voices, stories and lives.

Reminds us of our shared humanity, drawing upon Dakota epistemology – Mitakuye Owasin (all my relations). Including our relative, Ina Maka – Mother Earth and our relationship with her in growing and gathering food.

Calls upon our relationships as stewards of sustainability and nurtures wicozani - the wellbeing of body, mind and spirit. Gardening can in fact bring together these tenets through ceremony.  

 
 

Teresa Peterson is a fiscal year 2022 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.