Winter = Coyote Stories

UPDATE: 09/27/2012 San Juan School District Media Center has updated their website. I’ve updated the links to http://media.sjsd.org/ .  

Winter is here and I can’t wait to indulge myself in coyote stories and string games!!! I love how this Navajo tradition of storytelling continues to persevere, and that everyone still enjoys it.

There are coyote stories floating around the internet, quite a few of these are exclusively in English. Since I have been wanting to expose my untrained ear to more Navajo… I thought coyote stories in Navajo would be a helpful practice this time of year.

I’ve enjoyed watching the few coyote videos on YouTube, but I was sure there had to be more. There was little hope I could purchase copies for my personal movie library, so I gave up.  Then, a few months ago I found an online catalog for the San Juan School District Media Center, all Navajo materials. Score! They have the following coyote stories on video:

Coyote and Beaver
Coyote and Lizard
Coyote and Rabbit
Coyote and Skunk
Coyote and Toad

There are other interesting films I thought looked fun. Including: Navajo Coyote Tales: Legend to Film, Consonants with Coyote, and Coyote Learns Subtraction.

Before I shared my new discovery with everyone else I wanted to make sure the Media Center was still running and that the videos were in stock. So I called them, and lucky me….they are still open.

All the videos are in stock, and the prices of the videos have changed. The online catalog, today, lists the Coyote DVDs and VHS Cassettes as $10 each. The kind overseer of the Media Center informed me that the DVDs and VHS cassettes are now $5 each, and that the All 5 Coyote Tales set is $25 instead of $45 that is listed.

I am so glad there has been a price change, because I was having a hard time justifying  the purchase of a $10 DVD for 5-10 minutes of video content. Rebecca, the overseer, has informed me this price does not include shipping charges….however they try to send items in the most economical way.

In my conversation with the Media Center I made a deal with them. If you refer to this blog and any of the 5 different Coyote Stories I listed above, they will sell the Coyote VHS cassettes to my readers for $4 each. I’m thinking…..stocking stuffers, aren’t you?

Please call the San Juan School District Media Center 435-678-1230 for orders and any other price checks. And, of course, don’t forget to check out all the other materials that the San Juan School District Media Center sells.  Also, just to let you know, their holiday break begins on the 22nd and will be back on the 6th of January.

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UPDATE-Dec. 9, 2011
I have been in communication with the San Juan School District Media Center and they have decided to give us a better offer than the $4 VHS Cassette tapes. Navajo Now readers will be able to get 2 (two) VHS cassettes for the price of $5.00. That is 2 for $5 VHS only. Thank you so much Media Center. To place your order just simply call them, 435-678-1230.
Happy Holidays everyone. I’m looking forward to getting some of these Coyote films !