StoryCorps Capturing Warm Springs History

A history of the American people, one voice at a time — two voices, actually.

“We want it to be an archive where your great, great grandkids could go and hear you talk about your life in your own voice and you know, not just here you in a speech or soundbite, but hear you in conversation. What does a conversation sound like?? said Jackie Sojico, a member of the StoryCorps team criss-crossing the nation.

Liz Smith is at the mic inside the StoryCorps trailer in Warm Springs, recording 40 minutes of casual but meaningful conversation with Elyse Bagley.

Smith said later, “I learned that she wants to go to law school and that culture is really important to her.”

It’s not about looking back. It’s a snapshot in time.

Since 2005, StoryCorps has been traveling the nation, building an oral history that now includes the voices of 70,000 people.

“We try to go to as many different places as possible, so to capture as many different voices as possible,” said Sojico.

In six years, this is the first stop for the StoryCorps trailer on an Indian reservation. It will be there until July 30, the only stop planned in Oregon this year.

“Just taking a step back, you know, just talking with people and really looking at it,,” Bagley said. “I plan a pretty nice future for myself, but you know, not everything goes as planned.?

Her voice will join 35,000 conversations archived at the Library of Congress.

Though it may be hard for her to imagine, she may not be the only person to one day seek out today’s conversation.

“It’s going to be great for her great grandkids to hear just, how funny she is,” said Smith.

To make a reservation to record your story, got to www.storycorps,org or call 1-800-850-4406.