Thomas Doty

Thomas Doty was born in southern Oregon, where he lived until he passed away in 2020. He was descended from the Shasta and Takelma people who lived along the Klamath River in the village of Coyote's Paw, as well as from Irish and English settlers. He spent his youth exploring the back country with his dog Tippy, hiking, and camping with family and friends. Night after night, in the light of a campfire, he listened to stories about relatives who had called southern Oregon home for generations. Doty learned the art of storytelling from native elders. He then traveled the countryside performing Doty & Coyote: Stories from the Native West and composing stories, participating in a living oral tradition.