About Greg
Fixin to be 40, I feel like I am finally where I am supposed to be -- telling stories, writing stories, collecting stories, and doing my part in the forever-ization of Choctaw culture. I say "finally" but I think, in fact, that many of the varied experiences in my life have led to this point, contributing in some obvious and not-so-obvious ways.
Bio/Press Release (updated 1/17/08)
A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Greg is a burgeoning writer and storyteller. He is a descendant of Reverend Israel Folsom, a co-author of the first Choctaw dictionary and prominent Choctaw leader in both Mississippi and Oklahoma during the 1800’s. Greg is an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma's Native American Studies Program.
Greg’s short story, "Harriet's Burden," is included in the 2006 Nov/Dec special Native American issue of Storytelling Magazine, the membership publication of the National Storytelling Network. This story is the first in a series of short stories based on family remembrances. An accomplished Native American flute player, Rodgers has performed and presented workshops at schools, libraries, and tribal events throughout Oklahoma. He has performed stories in front of diverse audiences, including the Choctaw Nation Storytelling Festival, held annually in McAlester, Oklahoma, and the 2006 Okla Chahta Gathering in Bakersfield, California.
In November of 2007, Rodgers was a featured performer at the Fort Worth Library’s Native American Heritage Month Celebration. In March of 2007, he performed during the Native American Concert at the Texas Storytelling Festival in Denton, TX.
In between the writing, telling, and collecting of stories, Greg serves as a newly elected board member for both the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Alliance and Territory Tellers, the Oklahoma state storytelling organization. He is also a regional vice-president for the Folsom Family Association.
Greg’s storytelling repertory includes both traditional and contemporary Choctaw stories, family stories, and travel stories from the year he spent in Prague teaching English. Over the summer of 2006, Rodgers completed a storytelling mentorship under the direction of professional Choctaw storyteller and author Tim Tingle, sponsored by the University of Oklahoma. In addition, for the last year, he has studied the craft of storytelling with nationally respected and acclaimed Appalachian master storyteller Elizabeth Ellis. Greg’s performances are a public demonstration of his true passion, the collection and respectful preservation of his people’s memories----the foundation of the Choctaw oral narrative.
