Obit: WolfSong, Abenaki storyteller (1953-2000)

Subject: WolfSong is gone
From: CamiSu
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 05:32 PM

I looked to see if anyone had said anything about this and didn't find anything. I was woken a couple of days ago with the news that WolfSong, an Abenaki storyteller, had died of a heart attack on Friday. He leaves his wife, Myra, I think 5 children, (A wonderful lady and a neat bunch of boys), and many others who love him. I met him when we were both 'new tellers' at the Vermont Storytelling Festival, and he just spread his wings after that. He was gentle, kind, and loving, and had a great sense of humor. (Once he patted my husband's stomach, which does have a bit of size on it, and said "I see you've wintered well"!) He was young, not even 50, and will be very much missed.

I don't know what else to say. I've been thinking of him almost constantly since I heard.

If any of you know Myra, her address to write her is 673 Hopkins Hill Road · Hardwick · Vermont 05843

CamiSu

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: Wavestar
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 08:49 PM

Great sadness. Many blessings, and may he rest in peace.

-J

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 08:52 PM

It is always sad to hear of a special one, one who shared so much, passing on. The world needs those types so much more than others, imo.

Thanks for letting us know, CamiSu

kat

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: Troll
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 11:44 PM

To lose a friend is a hard thing. To lose a storyteller is doubly hard. A friend who was a storyteller is a loss almost beyond bearing.
May his spirit find peace and may the sadness of your loss fade into glad memories.

troll

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: Turtle
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 10:42 AM

Oh, no. I do know Myra, and knew WolfSong as well. This is really sad news. Thank you for letting us all know, CamiSu. And thanks for giving Myra's address--I'll drop her a line.

sad Turtle

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 02:43 PM

I know written stories give only a fraction of what a real storyteller does - but if there's one of his stories you could help us to read here, that'd be a good thing to do.

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: CamiSu
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 09:03 PM

When I get home I'll see what I can find. The only tape I have is all Native American stories, but one I liked most was about power and water. It came from his time in the service. I don't know if he ever recorded it.

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 10:10 PM

Kat said "....the world need those types so much more than others..."..Perhaps he was needed elswhere because of his qualities. It's hard for (me)us to understand but we have to believe there is a plan by a superior being that takes the good ones early to populate heaven.

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 10:21 PM

It's also important to recognize that the work of good hearts like his continues, carried on through the hands and the voices of those he touched and loved in his journey on this side.

Ah-ho! All my relations.

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: CamiSu
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:19 PM

Thank you Mountain Dog! That helps a lot! Ah-ho! and love you WolfSong!

CamiSu

Subject: RE: WolfSong is gone
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 12:11 AM

Mountain Dog and Spotted Dog, thank you for the reminder of the need for others elsewhere and how their work continues here.

Mitakuye Oyasin...

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 08:24 PM

Wolfsong was my great uncle. from what i remember of him, he was the coolest uncle anyone could have. i used to fall asleep to his tapes playing in my casette player. the night we found out he died, my family and i all slept on the livingroom floor and listened to his musical voice until we fell asleep. he will never be replaced. he was a truely magnificent person and i would do anything in this world to have his guidance and support in my life today.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: open mike
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 11:23 PM

If there are any recordings of this story teller, are they available? Is there any place on line to hear Wolfsong??   That is a great memory of the family cuddling and huddling together listening to his stories. It sounds like we all could benefit from hearing his stories!!
Apparently he wrote a book called Stories of the Dawnland .

Here is an item about him and his memorial..

Wolfsong (Rickie Provencher)

    Wolfsong, (He Who Sings The Wolf Song) Abenaki Storyteller, Native American Cultural Presenter and Speaker, formerly of Burlington, and recently of Hardwick, Vt., passed over on Nov. 24, 2000. Wolfsong was born (Rickie Provencher) on April 25, 1953, in Middlebury, Vt. He was raised and educated in Addison, Vt.

    Wolfsong embraced his Abenaki heritage and since 1985 has been drawing audiences into a circle of sharing, laughter and wisdom by sharing the Ancient Voices of Native American traditional stories and legends throughout the United States and Canada. Wolfsong studied with Abenaki, Cherokee and Tuscarora Elders and Teachers. His lectures and stories reflected his innate respect for women, humanity's connection to the earth and the cyclical nature of life.

    He has appeared and shared his gifts in such places as the Flynn Theater, First Night and the Earth Peace International Film Festival and The Fleming Museum in Burlington, Indianapolis Children's Museum, Boston Museum of Art, Stratton Mountain Arts Festival, Journeys into American Indian Territory, Long Island, N.Y., Three Appes Festival in Harvard, Mass., Tsai Theater in Boston, Mass., St. Louis Storytelling Festival in St. Louis, Mo., The Appalachian Storytelling Festival in Pennsylvania, First Things First at the Peabody Museum in Salem, Mass., as well as in hundreds of schools, libraries, festivals, museums, Powwows in locations as far away as Nicaragua. He has been heard on Vermont Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio and WSNO. Due to his extensive knowledge of Native American history, Wolfsong was a featured lecturer on Native American culture, history and legends frequently at UVM and St. Michael's College and at many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

    Wolfsong's intent was to pass on the legacy and wisdom of his ancestors. As Wolfsong would say, "Our bones are made of the earth, the earth is made of our bones." He asked his audiences to remember that as they walk on this land, they are walking on the bones of our ancestors. Wolfsong's mastery of acquainting his audiences with the breadth, depth and inherent value of indigenous cultures will be long remembered. He believed it important for people to understand the legacy that Native Americans have and are giving to American Society. He believed that it was necessary to embrace the past to consciously choose and direct our future.

    Wolfsong shared his heart and time generously with all around him. His gift of laughter, love of life and his embrace and respect of the earth will never be forgotten. Wolfsong touched many people's lives and hearts, especially his family and friends. He was thankful for those who were a part of his walk, his family now says, "Wliwni" (thank you).

    A Native American service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000, at the base of Snake Mountain. Those wanting to attend will meet at the Phillips residence at 271 Whitford Rd., Addison, Vt., at noon.

    In lieu of flowers those who wish to make contributions may send them to: Farm and Wilderness Camps, HCR 70, Box 27, Plymouth, Vt., 05056.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: open mike
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 11:26 PM

i found a foto of him and his son Laughing Bear here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=SRiFrTZCGvQC&pg=PA270&lpg=PA270&dq=wolfsong+story+teller+vermont&source=bl&ots=WkJbskKJVa&sig=VmWfp7l9MY9KLFsKjQK3URE1oOA&hl=en&ei=CbOTTqvjOqeciAL-qbSEBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,Amelia Ashley-Selleck
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 02:17 PM

Wolfsong was my great-uncle. I have just found this thread and I feel so blessed to see that so many cherished him and appreciated his creativity and the motives of his messages. I've been searching for years to find any of his stories..whether written, recorded or even any of his flute music..
We miss him dearly and would love if anyone would be willing to share any happy stories of him..I was young when he passed. I remember him sharing stories on family holidays and hoping to keep his legacy alive and continuing.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 03:56 PM

This post escaped my notice until it was revived. WolfSong sounds like a wonderful man and a great store house of music and tales. I do hope that there is some way of finding his work so that it can be shared with others once again.

I have added WolfSong to the "In Memoriam" thread. My belated condolences to all those who miss him and keep his memory alive.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,Carole Murphy
Date: 27 Mar 19 - 10:21 PM

Wolfsong is still sorely missed by so many, even after all these years.

Just to let folks know, I was his life partner for the last two years of his life and he had seven children. I produced some of his stories the year before he died in both CDs and tapes. I gave them all to his children after his death. I moved to Portland, Oregon a year after his death but his children are still in the state of Vermont. We have lost contact over the last 19 years, but I’ll bet you could find some of them still there.

I still miss the love of my life.
Carole

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 28 Mar 19 - 04:19 PM

At the Legacy dot com website is
a 2016 obituary for
Katherine Ida Wade, 85 years old,
identified as -- amongst other things --
Wolfsong's mother.

She outlived four of her children, including Wolfsong.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 28 Mar 19 - 05:25 PM

Wolfsong was known for telling one story,
an Abenaki tradition, which had already been printed and published.

It was the story of
Snowy Owl and the Great White Hare.

A story by that title
(cannot determine if the stories are identical)
may be found in
Return of the Sun by Joseph Bruchac;
some libraries carry this title, which is an old one.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,Jonathan Cummings
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 06:48 PM

I doubt many people, if anyone will read this given the many years since Wolf Song passed, but I hope it finds other's who cared for him.

We are dedicating the Nov 13th, 2021 Dawnland Story Festival (https://www.strawberybanke.org/events/dawnland-storyfest.cfm) to Wolf Song.

The 2021 Dawnland StoryFest is dedicated to the memory of the life and work of Wolf Song, a well-respected and much-loved Vermont Abenaki Storyteller

Wolf Song, (He Who Sings the Wolf Song), passed over on Nov. 24, 2000. Wolf Song was born (Rickie Provencher) on April 25, 1953, in Middlebury, Vermont. Wolf Song was only 47 years old – much too young – when he was taken away by a sudden cardiac arrest.

Wolf Song embraced his Abenaki heritage and drew audiences into a circle of sharing, laughter and wisdom by sharing the ancient voices of Native American traditional stories and legends throughout the United States and Canada. Wolf Song studied with Abenaki, Cherokee and Tuscarora Elders and teachers. His lectures and stories reflected his innate respect for women, humanity's connection to the Earth and the cyclical nature of life.

Wolf Song's intent was to pass on the legacy and wisdom of his ancestors. As Wolf Song would say, "Our bones are made of the earth, the earth is made of our bones." He asked his audiences to remember that as they walk on this land, they are walking on the bones of our ancestors. Wolf Song's mastery of acquainting his audiences with the breadth, depth and inherent value of Indigenous cultures will be long remembered. He believed it important for people to understand the legacy that Native Americans have and are giving to American society. He believed that it was necessary to embrace the past to consciously choose and direct our future.

Wolf Song shared his heart and time generously with everyone around him. His gift of laughter, love of life and his embrace and respect of the Earth will never be forgotten. Wolf Song touched many people's lives and hearts - including tellers and organizers of the Dawnland Story Festival, Anne Jennison and myself, Jonathan Cummings. It is directly due to the Wolf Song that I am here, here giving life and voice again to the stories that shaped me as a teller and a human being. Wolf Song was thankful for those who were a part of his walk, and would say, “It is when we tell stories to each other that we pause in our busyness to look into each other’s eyes, to touch each other from our hearts. That is the way it used to be a long time ago.”

We at the Dawnland Story Festival seek to make today that way again. And so we say “Wliwni” (thank you) to Wolf Song for sharing your joy of life and for providing inspiration to the storytellers and audiences who were privileged to learn from him.

Subject: RE: Obit: WolfSong - Nov 2000
From: GUEST,Jonathan Cummings
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 06:54 PM

As other's have noted, if there are any recordings or other documentation of Wolf Song's stories available to be shared I too am eager to listen to them or read them. I feel blessed to have a copy of "Pahanemok: Honoring My Sisters" with Gluscabi and Dzidsis, Owl Takes a Wife, The Girl and the Yellow Jacket, and Daughter of the Moon on it, along with songs by flutist Pablo Hurtado that I still listen to often.