The Flying Tiger: Women Shamans and Storytellers of the Amur

Storytelling bridges culture, history, and spirituality. In this text, Kira Van Deusen takes us into the world of the female shamans of the Amur, presenting over 50 traditional stories she recorded in the 1990s from the people of the Taiga Forest in the Russian Far East. More than a collection of tales, the reader learns about the lives of the story-tellers and their history, their spiritual traditions, adaptation to the environment, relationships with animals, and sense of humour. Outsiders to the culture have long focused on the physical artifacts of shamanism - like the costume and drum - and on ritual healing practices, but far less is known about the images shamans and storytellers use to entertain, heal, and educate. Van Deusen describes the lives of the people of the Amur during a period of dramatic transition, as they attempt to find some way to relate ancient traditions to an uncertain future. She emphasizes the contributions of women - often overlooked in the literature on shamanism - in traditional and contemporary society, and their concerns with ecology and the education of children. Their magnificent embroidery, illustrated by the author’s photographs, echoes these women’s stories.