Recorded interviews preserve a living conversation between two people – for present and future use. Your group will have plans to use the oral histories that you record in a particular way. But the recorded interview will be available for many generations to use in the future; everyone who listens to these interviews will have different purposes and will see new insights in your conversation with the Elder.
When you do an oral history interview, you are changing the course of history – because you are offering the people of the future a chance to understand life as the Elders see it now. Without this opportunity, future generations may make decisions that are not based on past wisdom.
An oral history interview is a powerful process of interaction between the interviewer and the storyteller or interviewee. But an interviewer must be a good listener; it is the interviewees’ show, their story.
Interviewers should understand and respect the relationship between Elders and youth. Your group may need to seek a fine balance between respect and the urgency of recording Elders’ knowledge. Your group may have an agenda, a project with particular goals, but it is best to be patient and let the Elders take the lead. Your group should be flexible and open to information that the storyteller offers but which may not have been expected or planned for. You may have to interview several Elders to get the information that you want. Or your group may consider changing the focus of your project to it the information the storyteller gives you.