Robert Lewis Storyteller

08/30/2026

This was originally posted by one of the people I referenced earlier this week who experienced serious lateral violence as this person attended cultural activities on the reservation.

This person learned, very quickly, that the whole 'sister, cousin, brother' moniker often used in Indigenous communities has become one of those cultural behaviors that becomes so normalized, very few people stop to consider what those words *should* mean. Instead they have stopped being used with the follow up responsibility of treating one another with the intention that is supposed to come with those words. Of course, when so much attention is placed on blood ties- a colonized concept in our tradition- rather than Gadugi, people think they can get away with things because the 'blood' will outweigh the bullying, gatekeeping, poor choices, theft, greed, and anything else that typically would never be accepted.

This person also learned the value of true community and family by reaching out to those this person trusted, something I take very seriously, so this person could meet those who truly walk with intention and kindness.

Cherokee National Holiday is coming up.
People from all over will be visiting.
Our behavior matters.
Our words matter.
If you have dark thoughts, remove yourself from others.
Work on yourself.
Do not enter the figurative and literal circles of Holiday if you cannot be kind.

The whole point of this holiday is celebrating community, not being a gatekeeper on behalf of people who never asked for your pain.

If your hurt is hurting others, reach out for help.
Don't spread it further.

08/29/2026

Some of my favorite events to share my art are the community events that are much less formal and family friendly. I'm out at Port Farms all weekend for their Flower & Art Festival. They've created an outdoor museum with a little ingenuity and a lot of fun. Families get to walk through fields filled with beautiful flowers and take in wonderful art created by a variety of artists, including me!

I guess word got out that my Turtle and Thunder painting has a Story behind it, because patrons visiting the Farm this weekend asked me to share the Story. Here is proof that Stories don't need large audiences to be shared and Storytellers don't need a lot of fanfare to reach people from every culture and background.

These lovely folks were from Pittsburgh, but I was lucky enough to share Turtle and Thunder with families who came in from New York, West Virginia, and Ohio last night.

Never underestimate the power of art and Stories. 🐢🌩

If you can't make it out to see me today, here's the story courtesy of Cherokee Nation: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3011124929224918

08/27/2026

Lake Ontario's name is from the Huron-Wendat word 'ontarí:io.'
Respect the shining waters.

08/27/2026

This week has been filled with friends and strangers trusting my family enough with their Stories that they shared the pain of what it is to encounter people who have somehow found it their life's missions to put down others.

Then I wake up this morning to horribly hateful and venomous comments on my post about Dolly and Gadugi and I know that ᎤᏁᏝᏅᎯ- Unetlanvhi- Creator has brought these people to me so I can use my voice. Those comments have been removed and the individuals are no longer welcome into this safe space.

I do not tolerate disrespect. Not toward others. Not toward myself.

There was a time I did. I did not value myself enough to stop people from taking advantage of me- in my family, in the community, in my work, in my private life.

It destroyed me and I am stronger today because I sought help and support to be able to feel confident enough to say, "Enough."

I do not tolerate disrespect. Not online. Not in person.

I will not allow people to come on this page to spout their hate-filled views of others- whether it be individuals or communities. This page will not be used to create a narrative of us versus them in any way.

Do not come at me with hate in your heart.

We gather in Gadugi. Much of our traditional teachings require us to be accountable to ourselves and know when our hearts have turned dark, telling us to seek peace within before engaging with others. If you need assistance finding that peace, reaching out for help is one thing. Spreading hate is another.

Do not tell me your people are more traditional while turning your back on the lessons of our Ancestors.

The lessons of our Ancestors- good and bad- are certainly in abundance when it comes to the dangers of hate, greed, racism, elitism, and self-superiority. It would be wise to heed them.

Tonight's Stories by the Fire will be addressing all of these topics. As always, this event is virtual, free, and we welcome all who come in Gadugi.

To attend, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HsrdSQaLA/

I hope you can read the words I've written on this photo of a storm brewing and apply them to yourself. We all deserve peaceful hearts, but only when we are willing to be accountable to ourselves and others.

Peace does not come from harm.

Ever.

08/26/2026

Dolly was different because she lived Gadugi without ever knowing it had a name.

08/25/2026

I can't wait to be back with my Cherokee Adult Choir family. 😍 Faye Morrison does fabulous job herding is like the distracted kittens we are. 🥰

Join us for free Cherokee language gospel singing! 🎶 Attendees will enjoy getting directly involved with congregational Cherokee hymns. See more details below ⬇️

08/24/2026

If you haven't heard the news, I'll be Storytelling at the Cherokee National Holiday this year, along with a host of other things.

If you're there, I'd love to see you!

Who's coming out to Holiday?

Event information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1bqwYVCuNc/

08/22/2026

This post is very hard to write.

Unfortunately, it has become necessary.

One of the things people gloss over when talking about Gadugi- ᎦᏚᎩ- the coming together in all things- is accountability.

I created this turkey vulture effigy for a very specific purpose and allowed someone to borrow it for instructional purposes. It has yet to be returned, the person is ignoring my requests for it to be returned, and- at this point- the effigy is stolen which saddens me deeply because this piece has an important job to do for community healing.

Gadugi teaches us to be kind, giving, and caring. It also requires us to be honest, responsible, and accountable. When we only focus on the first fun parts of Gadugi, we do our traditions a disservice.

There is a reason we traditionally had a Peace Chief and a War Chief. If everything was always easy, we'd have no need for the latter.

If you happen to see this piece, please realize it is stolen and needs to be returned so it can go where it was intended.

At this point, in the way of our Ancestors, I just want it to come home. It needs to be dropped off at the Cherokee Nation Complex, care of Noel Grayson in the condition it was loaned, and there will be no questions or further commentary. Alternately, it can be left at The Gallery in Cherokee Springs Plaza, care of Vivian Cottrell.

But it needs to be returned and we need to start having honest conversations about respect and honesty.

08/21/2026

Yesterday was our last day with the AniFugeeUsdi in their program.

The funding for it was cut.

The program was an after school and summer program to give them an opportunity to learn English and integrate more successfully into the United States.

All of the AniFugeeUsdi are here with the proper documentation.
They all left very bad circumstances where they were born.
Each student attended regularly, behaved, cooperated, smiled, and showed gratefulness for the opportunity.

They did everything they were promised they should do to be accepted by the US government.

If this story doesn't sound familiar to you and you are Cherokee, preparing for Cherokee National Holiday, I urge you to learn our history better.

Even when we welcomed the Europeans, it wasn't enough.
Even with a written language, it wasn't enough.
Even when we joined their foreign war campaigns, it wasn't enough.
Even when we converted, it wasn't enough.
Even when we printed Bibles in Cherokee syllabary, it wasn't enough.
Even when we sent our children to their schools on the reservation, it wasn't enough.
Even when we let them take our children to industrial schools, it wasn't enough.
Even when they experimented on us, it wasn't enough.

It.
Was.
Never.
Enough.

And now these children have learned the same thing.

They've shown up.
They've been steadily learning English.
They wear our uniforms, recognize our lingo, practice our norms.

And what they've learned is that, no matter how much they follow the 'rules', someone can take it all away in hatred.

Hatred of the different.
Hatred of the new.
Hatred of the other.

And all our family could do was sit with them one last time and weave baskets in our tradition of Gadugi, folding our prayers, our dreams for them, our sadness, our love into those precious moments with beautiful children who now have nowhere safe to go.

Just so that someone can complain that 'those foreign kids wander the streets.'

If that doesn't resonate with you, again, I urge you to learn our history.

They deserve better and we will keep fighting for them.

08/20/2026

It's Thursday, and you know what that means!

Come join me tonight with Stories by the Fire, a free, virtual Storytelling session where we tackle today's topics through traditional values.

Everyone is welcome who attends in the spirit of Gadugi- the coming together in all things.

Link to event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2027357467838199/2028910367682909?event_time_id=2028910367682909