The Storyteller

I started running around as older adults do when I was a teenager, and we got caught one night, and we had an open container; I was only fourteen years old and I got judged as an adult, and I had to sit in jail. They wouldn't let me out of jail for seven days. It hurt me, and that's where, I believe... that was the turning point where I wanted to get even with society. I wanted to get even; I wanted to rebel against any kind of authority or law.

James grew up in Moose Factory, Ontario, a Cree community on the south end of James Bay. His parents brought him up in religion, but his life was empty as a young man. There was a man though, who had come to the community who was different... and he helped James move from religion to a real relationship with his Creator.

Carrie was born in 1929 on Nunavik island, the second largest island on the Bering Sea. There were no stores, no running water... nothing that resembles the conveniences of today. Life was challenging. Listen as Carrie recounts her experiences and the rich culture of growing up on the island. And listen as she shares her spiritual heritage... something she didn't leave behind when she left the island.

Albert's heart was hard - by his own admission. He had a hateful feeling towards anyone who would try to speak to him about Jesus. He was mean to his wife who was a Christian. He even burned her Bible. But through it all, she stuck with him and prayed for Albert. Albert had a problem with alcohol. His sons began to follow his lead to the bottle. The question was asked, "Who do you think you are?" and he though, "How am I going to answer this?"

I tell people that I had a drug problem when I was young. Our church was Sunday afternoon on the reservation. I got drug to church on Sunday afternoon, and I got drug to church on Sunday evening, and I got drug to church on prayer meeting night. So that was my drug problem.

Ed was raised by his grandma until she died when he was fourteen years old. His uncle was as close to a dad as he ever had. He didn't know who his real dad was. His grandma sent him to boarding school because she couldn't afford to keep him.

Frank speaks candidly about the quest for love. He shares how he would do things he knew weren't right in order to gain the acceptance of others. He would come to realize though that all he needed was found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Frank grew up in the Cree community of Loon Lake, Alberta. He remembers good times with family in the bush, hunting and trapping. He reflects on the blessing of having a dad and a mom. And he speaks about his spiritual journey, how he came to understand that he had a problem he couldn't fix.

Emerson joined the army. It was a rebellious time in his life and he was getting into trouble. One day, someone stole some money from another person's locker. The commanding officer told Emerson he knew that he had taken the money. When he asked why the CO thought that, the officer said, "because you're nothing but a worthless human being." Emerson couldn't say anything because that's how he felt about himself. What happened after that changed his direction forever.

Emerson was raised in an urban setting away from the reservation. But home was where the relatives were and they would go back often. His dad raised the family Christian after being coming out of the traditional way. Emerson followed, but later began to question what he believed.

Though originally from Washington State, she was raised by her grandparents in rural Oklahoma. When she was three, her father was shot and killed. Thankfully, she had her grandparents who provided a stable, loving environment... and made a lasting impact on her life.

"I wanted to go do these drugs cause I hadn't done them for quite some time and it was time for me to do them again. I used to go on three-day binges. I would disappear and my wife and kids didn't know where I was. They didn't know if I was dead or alive or nothing." Listen as Paul shares his battle with addiction and how it finally came to an end.

Working on the Alaska pipeline, Paul got into drugs and alcohol. It changed his life. His addictions had full control over him, until one night, when he had a dream so terrifying, that it caught his full attention.

He was in a fist fight at least twice a week, every week for most of his schooling... because of the way he looked. He didn't fit in with the white kids... he didn't fit in with the Native kids. Listen as Paul shares about the early days of his journey and how that would influence his outlook in the days to come.

Where was the peace that others seemed to have? As she looked around, she couldn't help but notice. How come she couldn't find it? It seems she'd been fighting for something all her life... perhaps just fighting to survive. She'd learned that in her youth. But she wanted what these folks had. Listen as she shares how she finally found what she was looking for.