Interview · North Dakota · Oliver Gourd
Themes: Storytelling & oral tradition, Culture & continuity, Arts & expression, Listening & observation, Humor & play
New transcript-based questions created with AI assistance using Scott Simpson’s Learn About and Learn From guide.
Learn About questions
1. What did evening visiting and storytelling look like in Oliver Gourd's childhood?
2. How did his understanding of some stories change as he grew older?
3. How does he contrast limited material possessions with the richness of laughter?
Learn From questions
1. What makes time together meaningful in my family or community?
2. Has a story or lesson become clearer to me with time?
3. How can humor strengthen relationships while respecting the people involved?
Transcripts
Sense of Humor with Oliver Gourd
Watch this interview on YouTubeLong time ago people didn’t have no radios TVs this one I was you know four or five years old and electricity so talking was a entertainment storytelling there come in the evening and that may have an a feet some people visit that come over and they would feed him and sit then top sometimes ain’t we into the night talk and laugh and telling stories maybe a little gossip Peter there and what’s going on they’re amazing but a call here these stories and that’s how we learned a lot of stuff they were tells a story but there’s always like a lesson plan or something was in that story and sometimes yeah it couldn’t he couldn’t figure it out but eventually you do later on down the road that’s why they were telling me this it you figure it out but anyway I know uh storytelling this of I think that’s how we pass on our history in there our customs our culture because they would talk about me being a dancer he was there doing something this way and Natalie and how he did it and maybe you said that I did it differently so they’re always they talk about observing and my dad was a good enough that here he elect emotion at what time years my uncle in well because I’ll get me in trouble used to give me trouble Uncle Mike my favorite uncle my dad I’ve said they’re talking it time into town you know you well go ahead tom is gonna push the gear you’re not kind of sound they put in his gas you going on just put it in every year is going well of course it night so sir ask your dad what kind of car he is driving dad what kind of car is Ivan well cause it could be trouble you know one time one two I remember my dad had a car goes there’s a beautiful was always coming out and so we were over someplace on my uncle’s there again my dad had already you know we were sitting in that trunk was open we’re gonna go someplace you said ask your dad mmm-hmm what kind of wood is burning there dad what kind of wood you burn in azz Connecticut welcome you travel it but then I listened to him and I had asked him so I listened to anyway things like that you know it’s always a humor because um assume they come they said to a reporter but and when you’re when you’re poor you don’t know you’re poor as everybody was poor around yes I’m indeed depends on how you to say poor like this material stuff in some way but we’re always laughing and talking and telling stories and I was I was something to do so but yeah stories and had a lot of humor in him
Affiliation sources
NDNAEU document credits: Oliver Gourd — Spirit Lake (Dakota).
Video title and URL from the supplied Teachings of Our Elders transcript document.
Source materials
Supplied transcript documents. Text and transcription uncertainties are preserved as supplied.