Quote by Tommy Orange: “Storytelling is how we survive, how we keep ourselves alive.”

This quote emphasizes the vital role of narratives and sharing personal histories, especially for communities facing erasure. It explains that by telling stories, people preserve their culture, memory, and sense of self, ensuring their heritage and identity continue to thrive.

Reflecting a core theme in 'There There' and many Indigenous cultures, this quote underscores storytelling's power. In an era where marginalized voices seek to reclaim their narratives, it highlights how stories transmit knowledge, heal trauma, and assert cultural continuity.

American author and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma whose debut novel There There was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. His work brings Indigenous urban experience in America to the centre of contemporary literary fiction.