Introduction to Digital Storytelling 

Traditional stories connect American Indians and Alaska Natives to their past, present, and future; they 

remind communities that—like their ancestors and elders—they can rise above the stress and pain of 

the moment. Digital storytelling can connect youth and communities to these important teachings and 

promote healing, resilience, and action. 

Getting Started: The Power of Digital Storytelling 

American Indian and Alaska Native communities traditionally used and continue to use storytelling to 

promote values, teachings, and cultural resilience. They are now using technology, that is, digital 

storytelling, to tell stories. Communities have developed digital stories to preserve language and 

culture, to engage youth, and to promote prevention programming. Digital storytelling has the 

potential to promote healing, hope, and community support. Training in digital storytelling is available 

through the SAMHSA Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center. 

Digital stories can be used to increase awareness and community readiness. You can fulfill objectives 

from your agency’s Action Plan; you could use a digital story to showcase data and evaluation 

outcomes. Your digital story could be used to increase support and collaboration and to secure 

additional funding. 

Story and Storytellers 

Digital storytelling can be used as a tool in a social 

marketing prevention campaign, to explain agency 

services, to promote a specific event, or as a youth 

engagement activity. Everyone has a story to tell. 

Possible storytellers include a team from your agency, 

community stakeholders, youth, tribal council 

members, traditional leaders, veterans, and recipients 

of mental health and prevention services. A digital 

storytelling workshop is fun and learning the 

technology is not difficult. However, it does take a 

commitment of time. Workshops take between 12 and 

15 hours. Training takes place over several days across 

one or two weeks. Schedules can be adjusted to best 

fit the needs of the storytellers. Workshops can 

accommodate up to 10 storytellers, depending on 

several factors. This should be discussed with your workshop trainers.

What you need for a workshop 

1. A commitment of time (12 to 

15 hours plus planning time) 

2. Internet access 

3. A device, such as a computer, 

tablet, or smartphone 

4. Adult chaperones and parental 

permission if youth trainees 

are under age 18 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defining Your Purpose and Identifying Your Audience 

You should define the goals for a digital storytelling training and the audience for the final stories. 

Potential audiences can include youth in the community, tribal leadership, school staff, parents, 

collaborative partners, recipients of services, or the entire community. 

Workshop Participants 

Participants can be aged 14 to elders. Youth younger than 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult 

and will need parental permission. Technological skills are not necessary but familiarity with computers 

is helpful. Participants will need internet access. Although digital stories can be made using a cell 

phone, it is easier to use a computer or a tablet. 

Next Steps 

Once you decide to host a digital storytelling training, you will schedule a planning call with the 

trainer(s). It will help the planning process if you have made several key decisions before the planning 

call. Use the Digital Storytelling Game Plan shown in Table 1 to start planning a storytelling workshop, 

then schedule a call with a trainer to discuss your ideas and schedule the training. 

Table 1. Digital Storytelling Game Plan 

Digital Storytelling Game Plan 

What is the goal or 

purpose of the digital 

storytelling workshop 

Who will we train? 

Who is our audience? 

How will we recruit 

participants? 

When and where will 

the training take place? 

www.samhsa.gov | 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) 

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