*By Grade

While an old woman is making cornbread, a stranger knocks on her door. The stranger is an old man who is tired and hungry. She lies and says she does not have much to give. This Kanyen'kehà:ka (Gan-yeh-ga-ha-ga) story is about why we ought to be generous and not greedy. The Kanyen'kehà:ka is one of Six Nations that together are the Haudenosaunee.

Educator & Series Information
The Woodpecker is part of the Strong Stories: Kanyen’kehà:ka series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Le pic-bois.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741200

Wampum Belts record and remind us of important events and agreements through patterns and colours. Each belt tells its own story. This Kanyen'kehà:ka (Gan-yeh-ga-ha-ga) story is about the Two Row Wampum. The Kanyen'kehà:ka is one of Six Nations that together are the Haudenosaunee.

Educator & Series Information
Two Row Wampum is part of the Strong Stories: Kanyen’kehà:ka series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Le wampum à deux rangs.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741217

Bundle includes all 8 titles, 6 of each, in the Strong Stories Tlingit series (48 books total).

Tlingit Strong Stories written and illustrated by Bill Helin include the following:

Gift of the Salmon
Hong Kong Story Totems
Making a Canoe
Making a Drum
Raven Returns the Daylight
Spirit Bear
Tlingit Fishing
Tlingit Storytellers 

This resource is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771746748

Own the entire set of Tlingit Strong Stories written by Bill Helin! (8 books total)

Included is one copy of each of the following:

Gift of the Salmon
Hong Kong Story Totems
Making a Canoe
Making a Drum
Raven Returns the Daylight
Spirit Bear
Tlingit Fishing
Tlingit Storytellers

This resource is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745956

As Raven flew over the forest, some of the salmonberries that he was carrying in his beak fell into the river. The berries washed out into the ocean where, “They grew and they grew until each sprouted a tail. Then two eyes and a mouth, both male and female.”

Bill Helin’s lyrical text and engaging illustrations will delight readers of all ages with this story about the origin of the salmon and its food chain and life cycle.

Educator & Series Information
Gift of the Salmon is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Le Don du saumon.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741088

In 2012, Bill Helin traveled to Hong Kong to work with a school to carve two totem poles. One pole is about the Chinese culture and the other reflects his Tlingit culture. This book describes the poles and the process of carving them over a period of three months.

Educator & Series Information
Hong Kong Story Totems is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Histoires de totems à Hong Kong.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741118

Bill Helin is a Tlingit artist, carver and storyteller. In this book, he describes the step-by-step process of making his first cedar dugout canoe. From searching for the right tree in the forest to paddling the finished canoe for the first time, each step is clearly described and illustrated.

Educator & Series Information
Making a Canoe is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Construire un canot.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741125

In this book, Bill Helin explains the importance of songs and drumming to the culture and history of the Tlingit people. He also describes the process that he went through to make his first drum. An illustrated series of directions and a supply list will give the reader a clear understanding of the drum maker’s craft.

Educator & Series Information
Making a Drum is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Fabriquer un tambour.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741101

In this beautifully illustrated chapter book, Bill Helin tells the story of how Raven freed the sun, moon and stars. The Chief of Darkness had thought he was clever to keep them all hidden away. Discover how Raven shows how clever he can be as he transforms himself to return daylight to the world.

Educator & Series Information
Raven Returns the Daylight is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Corbeau rapporte la lumière du jour.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741064

One spring day the forest animals gathered with Mother Bear to meet her two new cubs. As they emerged from the den, Raven gifted a sacred white feather (a symbol of peace and harmony) to one of them. This beautifully illustrated story of a little spirit bear is written in lyrical text and will appeal to readers of all ages.

Educator & Series Information
Spirit Bear is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Ours Esprit.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741095

Bill Helin grew up in a family of fishermen. In this book he describes some of the traditional Tlingit fishing tools and methods. Herring, salmon, halibut, cod, red snapper and oolichan are some of the fish that are described in this book and that Bill’s family is thankful for.

Educator & Series Information
Tlingit Fishing is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: La Pêche chez les Tlingits.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741132

In this book, Bill Helin explains the importance of stories and storytellers to the culture and history of the Tlingit people. Often using animals of the forest and ocean as characters, the storytellers wove teachings of survival, respect and family life into the fabric of their stories.

Educator & Series Information
Tlingit Storytellers is part of the Strong Stories: Tlingit series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures. It is from our stories that we grow and become strong and proud.

This resource is also available in French: Les Conteurs tlingits.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771741071

Own all 3 titles in the series From the Mountains to the Sea!

The From the Mountains to the Sea series follows a river eco-system from its source high up in the mountains all the way to the estuary. Along the rivers path we introduce the cedar tree, the salmon which feeds the entire eco-system, the bear, eagle and orca. Each book is written with a science perspective on the lefthand pages and social studies on the righthand pages.

All 3 titles in the From the Mountains to the Sea series include:

Kindergarten: We Live Here
Click link to download a five-week Kindergarten planning guide:Kindergarten FREE Download for We Live Here

Grade 1: We Share the Seasons
Click link to download a five-week Grade 1 planning guide: Grade 1 FREE Download for We Share the Seasons

Grade 2: We Are a Community
Click link to download a Grade 2 five-week planning guide: Grade 2 FREE Download for We Are a Community

Also available, each book has its own bundle of items in our Book Bundles section.

This bundle is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
Book dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771745789

Each book in the series, From the Mountains to the Sea, supports the new BC Aboriginal Learning Standards in both Science and Social Studies.

Click link to download a Grade 2 five-week planning guide: Grade 2 FREE Download for We Are a Community

Back of book introduction:
From the Mountains to the Sea: We Are a Community is a Grade 2 resource, which covers all of your Aboriginal Learning Standards in both science and social studies within the new BC curriculum.

This book is about a river. Most rivers start high up in the mountains. As the water comes downhill, it makes little pathways in the rocks and gravel. As the pathways get bigger, they join to make streams. When several streams join, they make a river. Some rivers have waterfalls and deep pools. In some places, fast moving water tumbles over rocks forming rapids. When a river leaves the mountain for flatter ground it starts to slow down. Eventually, a river ends when it flows into the sea. Where the fresh water and the salt water meet is an estuary. Have you ever been to an estuary?

The area in and around an estuary is a good place for plants, animals and people to live because we can all find food and water there. The salmon is an important food for many of us. Have you ever eaten salmon?

People have paid attention to the life cycle of salmon for thousands of years. We have learned that sometimes we can help salmon survive by building a salmon hatchery along a river. Some hatcheries are huge while others are quite small. Have you ever visited a salmon hatchery?

There are many sizes of rivers in the world. Some are wide. Some are narrow. Some are deep. Some are shallow. Do you live near a river? What plants and animals have you seen there?

This book is also part of a bundled package that includes:

• a card game: matching and sequencing
• a CD
• bulletin board trimmers

Click here to view the bundle: From the Mountains to the Sea: We Are a Community Bundle

This resource is available in French: Collection Des montagnes à la mer: Nous sommes une communauté

Additional Information
Book dimensions: 10" x 14" | Pages: 16 | ISBN: 9781771741033

Each book in the series, From the Mountains to the Sea, supports the new BC Aboriginal Learning Standards in both Science and Social Studies.

From the Mountains to the Sea: We Live Here is a Kindergarten resource, which covers all of your Aboriginal Learning Standards in both science and social studies within the new BC curriculum.

Click link to download a five-week Kindergarten planning guide: Kindergarten FREE Download for We Live Here

Back of book introduction:
This book is about a river. Can you find a river on the front cover of this book? What do you know about rivers?

Most rivers start high up in the mountains. As the water comes down the hill, it makes little pathways in the rocks and gravel. As the pathways get bigger, they join to make streams. Sometimes the streams join together to make a river. Where a river leaves the mountains the ground flattens out, and the river slows down. The river ends when it flows into the sea.

The area in and around a river is a good place for plants, animals and people to live because we can all find food and water there. The salmon is an important food for many of us.

Some of the plants and animals that you will find in this book are:

• Cedar trees live and grow all the way along a river, from the mountains to the sea.
• Salmon spend their adult lives out in the open sea. When it is time to lay their eggs, they swim back to their home streams. Their home streams are sometimes very close to the mountains.
• Bears walk long distances to find their food. They live from the mountains to the sea. In the fall they go to the rivers to fish for salmon.
• Eagles fly over large areas looking for food. They live from the mountains to the sea. In the fall, they go to the rivers to feast on salmon.
• Orcas live in the open sea. They swim long distances to hunt for food. Some orcas eat salmon. 

This book is also part of a bundled package that includes:

• a Talking Feather
• rubber stamps
• bulletin board trimmers

Click here to view the bundle: From the Mountains to the Sea: We Live Here Bundle

This resource is available in French: Collection Des montagnes à la mer: Nous habitons ici 

Additional Information
Book dimensions: 10" x 14" | Pages: 16 | ISBN: 9781771741019