Article archive / February 2019
Originally published: . Volume 10, No. 2. Source pages: 9.
Media and psychology expert, Dr. Susan Glanville, is sharing her talents as Susie Marie PhD®, creator of South River Stories®. Her current efforts are focused in her program for the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Water/Ways Exhibition in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she recently performed for the public, as well as for hundreds of local fourth graders.
"In keeping with the Water/Ways theme, I used my stories, lessons, games, dances, and songs to show how 'Native American Ways with Water' help us with 'above actions,' the theme of my Lost Hero Found book."
Audiences rave about the performance, saying they love "the use of props" . . . "the sign language" . . . "the singing." They also value the content, "very interesting facts about dreaming,” and praise the “great audience involvement."
"My special guest was Gunhay, Cherokee for bobcat," Glanville said. "The bobcat is an important Native American spirit totem. How he lost his life is unknown, but I was honored to have taxidermied Gunhay as my co- teacher.
In her program Glanville works from basic ideas of Native American cultures. "Native American cultures reflect their belief that all
of life is sacred and that we are seamlessly connected, with reverence and respect, as one with nature," she explained.
"Their relationship with and use of water impacts every aspect of life and represents a deeply spiritual way of living present across all generations of Native Americans."
"These cultural values are foundational components of my book, Lost Hero Found, part of my new book series, The Power of T.E.A.®. I drew on my own Native American heritage and my doctoral expertise in psychology to bring deeper insight into the significance of water in the lives of our first people.
In her program, Dr. Glanville examines the role of water in the worlds of both the first inhabitants of our land and the people of modern times across all aspects of their lives. "Changes and continuity in powerful Native American rituals, such as the Sweat Lodge and Vision Quest, both of which have water components, linked to the theme of my book," she said.
She explores the psychological significance of this theme, which includes the use of water for purification and healing, for both modern and early civilizations. "I also compared the role of water in several aspects of early and current Native American everyday life activities, such as hunting, cooking, traveling, and parenting."
"I included a discussion of the role that water has played in a variety of Native American activities, including social dances, coming-of-age ceremonies, and
wedding traditions. Finally, I focused on the influence of large bodies of water, the Mississippi River, the Pearl River, and the Gulf Coast, on the cultures of early and modern Native Americans."
Dr. Glanville developed her book series to teach families the power of their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Her original stories, art, and songs feature the people, places, crops, and critters in her rural life, and include traditions from Native American cultures.
"I once lived a big city life, where I worked in the broadcast media, performing arts, and psychological sciences. Early in my career I conducted research on and provided services for children and their families in hospitals, clinics, community settings, and schools."
" When I moved to a rural area near the bank of a river in the South, I discovered I felt right at home. I soon became known as “Susie Marie PhD®” and began to write stories and teach life lessons based on living close to nature."
Now, she divides her time between writing books and doing shows for children and adults in communities across the country.
For more information about Susie Marie PhD® and The Power of T.E.A.® go to her website, SouthRiverStories.com.
Dr. Glanville as Susie Marie PhD®, dressed for her program for the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Water/Ways Exhibition in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Gunhay, the bobcat. Dr. Glanville (Susie Marie PhD®) teaches and entertains the children and families with themes from the Native American culture. Her special guest at the Water Ways program was Gunhay, Cherokee for bobcat. The bobcat is an important Native American spirit totem.
(Courtesy photo)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.