ABSTRACT
Growing up in various places across the United States, from Coos Bay in Oregon to Oklahoma City, the author was taught a great deal about his family's history and his connections to the land, and he heard stories that have been in his family for untold generations. Some of what he was taught he learned the hard way; for instance, his grandmother chased him out of the house when she was basket weaving because it was women's work. He also learned about changing social mores: traditionally, food is served by women, and elders and men eat first as is still the custom in some North western tribes but at times this is forgotten. He also heard stories about how the world was made ready for people by Coyote and others of the First People. People today may find some of the stories disturbing or a little outrageous; others may take them with a grain of salt.
