Dzawada'enuxw

On the banks of the Gwa’yi River, a young Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w princess grows up to be a curious student, an influential leader, and a mother. She is a humble person and doesn’t speak of her royalty to her children, but when they learn she is a princess at a traditional celebration, they are in disbelief. She doesn’t wear fancy clothes or attend balls or do anything the children think princesses should do. Using a strategy they had read about in an old tale to put their mother’s royalty to the test, the children discover the truth. But more importantly, they also learn what it really means to be a princess.

Written as a tribute to the author’s grandmother, this beautifully illustrated story reimagines a fairy tale in a contemporary Indigenous setting.

Awards

• First Place: 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Awards for BC Authors
• Longlisted: 2024-2025 First Nation Communities READ Award

Reviews
"The author was inspired by the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson when she wrote this story to honour her grandmother. In this contemporary version, two children, while attending a traditional Indigenous celebration, are surprised to hear that their mother is a princess. She has never mentioned her royalty, and she doesn’t act the way the children think princesses generally behave. Remembering the story that told of placing a pea under mattresses to test if a person is a real princess, the children secretly place a pair of pants under their mother’s mattress and anxiously wait to hear if her sleep is affected. In the morning, they learn not only the truth, but also what it really means to be a princess.

Classroom Connections: The Princess and the Pants could be used in the classroom to compare different versions of fairy tales. It could also serve as a springboard into discussions about the personal qualities that the author wished to celebrate when she wrote this story. A short biographical note about Dr. Evelyn Voyageur—a notable Indigenous leader—is included. Beautiful illustrations depict aspects of a Kwakwaka’wakw culture." - Canadian Teacher Magazine, Fall 2023 issue

"A contemporary Indigenous spin on the Princess and the Pea, the picture book is suitable as a part of a fairy tale unit and a read-aloud to spark discussions about personal qualities and attributes, expectations, stereotypes, curiosity, the importance of helping others, and honouring traditions." - Focused Education Resources

“Loved the role modelling of the princess as one who represents adventure, cultural knowledge, and caring for others while finding achievement. The story promotes respect, admiration, humility, kindness, and honouring of a strong, successful female. The imaginative story is a fun challenge to princess stereotypes and classic related fairytales. The nonfiction content provides an enriching and personalized bonus that deepens the impact of the words and provides local significance. Well done. The illustrations are excellent, offering accurate and attractive cultural designs, clothing, head ware, and jewelry.” – The 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society judges’ panel

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Backmatter provides details about Ukwanalis, including a map, as well as information about the inspiration behind the story, Dr. Evelyn Voyageur.

Curriculum Connections 

• Early Literacy – listening, reading, and discussing 
• Art – traditional Indigenous art practices, including jewellery and regalia 
• Social Studies – career education, family history, connection to community, geography, and local First Peoples communities 
• Language Arts – contemporary First Peoples stories and revisioning classic fairy tales 
• Social Responsibility – leadership, humility, caring for others, and honouring traditions 

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8.5” x 11” | Hardcover | 9781771746038

Andy has had a rough school year and is ready for summer vacation. But when Grandpa Rick tells him that he will be participating in a canoe journey instead of enjoying his usual summer activities, Andy feels he is being punished.

Join Andy as he experiences a Tribal Canoe Journey for the first time and learns what it’s like to belong to a canoe family. Follow along as Andy navigates physical and emotional challenges and finds an answer to the important question: “Who am I?”

Awards

• 2024-2025 Hackmatack Children's Choice Award Shortlisted 

Reviews
"In this graphic novel, Andy gains insight into his own heritage and identity when he joins a group of youth who are participating in a Tribal Canoe Journey. People from different communities paddle to a host Nation for cultural celebrations in this annual West Coast event. The paddlers must train and prepare for the journey, which takes several days through variable conditions. The experience is physically demanding, but Andy learns much about his people’s culture, and he gains a sense of belonging as part of a canoe family." - Canadian Teacher Magazine, Spring 2023 Issue

"This graphic novel highlights how First Peoples connect to their culture and honour their past. The first-hand perspectives of participants in the 2019 journey help showcase the human emotions and physical challenges it involves. Teachers across elementary and secondary levels can use this short graphic novel as a read-aloud in a classroom or literature circles to help students learn about tribal canoes. Students could also be invited to explore their own traditions and experiences, and the art in the book could inspire projects that are based on the illustrations in this story." - Focused Education Resources

"Andy's Tribal Canoe is a fantastic book to use for reading groups. We were able to have amazing discussions. I started with the question, "Who am I?" And had students write what they would like to say before we opened the book. Then as we went through the book we made connections to their local communities, elders, food, canoe journeys etc. We also had our school elder come in for a discussion.... We also talked about what we would do if we were the host place for the tribal canoe journey, what we would want them to know about our community and what food would we like to share. Students created their own canoe on paper with drawings to represent themselves and their communities. I love this book. It led to more than I ever expected, students loved the pictures and the story. I hope to read this with as many students as possible." - Holly Polischuk, Cayoosh Elementary School Educator

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 8.

Additional Information
72 Pages | 8" x 10" | Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-77174-600-7

This Intermediate bundle features one copy each of two Strong Stories sets: Kwakwaka’wakw and Métis (16 books total).

Kwakwaka’wakw Strong Stories include the following from authors Sally Williams and Bobbie Wildman and illustrator Lou-ann Neel:

A Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Button Blankets
Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs
Our Traditional Medicines
Planning a Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Strength in Our “Ways of Knowing”
The Cedar Tree Our Culture, Our Tree
Traditional Berry Picking 

Métis Strong Stories include the following from author and illustrator Leah Marie Dorion:

How the Moon Came to Be
Métis and Dandelions
Métis Singing Sticks: A Story About Métis Musical Traditions
Pemmican Berries
Poems to Honour Mother Earth
The Helpful Sasquatch
Métis Transport Boxes
The Story of the Tamarack Tree

Reading levels span from grade 4 to grade 6.  Recommended for intermediate students.

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771746670

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

Recommended for intermediate students.

Books in the Kwakwaka’wakw series include the following from authors Sally Williams and Bobbie Wildman and illustrator Lou-ann Neel:

A Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Button Blankets
Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs
Our Traditional Medicines
Planning a Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Strength in Our “Ways of Knowing”
The Cedar Tree Our Culture, Our Tree
Traditional Berry Picking 

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771746694

Own the entire set of Kwakwaka’wakw Strong Stories! (8 books total)

Recommended for intermediate students.

Books in the Kwakwaka’wakw series include the following from authors Sally Williams and Bobbie Wildman and illustrator Lou-ann Neel:

A Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Button Blankets
Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs
Our Traditional Medicines
Planning a Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Strength in Our “Ways of Knowing”
The Cedar Tree Our Culture, Our Tree
Traditional Berry Picking 

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745840

Kwakwaka’wakw (kwok-wok-ya-wokw) people use the cedar tree for many different purposes. It is sacred to the Kwakwaka’wakw because of all it provides. Is there a plant or tree that you feel grateful for?

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for intermediate students (grades 4-6).

The Cedar Tree Our Culture, Our Tree is part of the Strong Stories: Kwakwaka’wakw 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.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771743129

Kwakwaka’wakw (kwok-wok-ya-wokw) people harvest many types of berries. We are careful to take care of our berries in the forest. What do you take care of in the forest?

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for intermediate students (grades 4-6).

Traditional Berry Picking is part of the Strong Stories: Kwakwaka’wakw 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.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | ISBN: 9781771743136

This bundle includes all six Strong Stories sets.  You will receive one copy of each book in the six sets (48 books total).

Listed below are the Strong Stories sets (and the titles included within each) that you will receive in this bundle:

Coast Salish Stories
Granny and I Get Traditional Names
Mom, How Do You Make Smoked Fish?
Why Ravens and Wolves Hunt Together
Taking Care of Our Mother Earth
The Cedar Tree: The Heart of Our People
The Great Blanket of Moss
The Great Trade
The Sun and the Moon

Dakelh Stories
Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle
Berries of the Dakelh Territory
Berry Picking with ‘Atsoo
Counting in Carrier (delivered in a dual-language format of Carrier and English)
Fall in Saik’uz (delivered in a triple-language format of Carrier, English, and French)
Spring in Saik’uz (delivered in a triple-language format of Carrier, English, and French)
Summer in Saik’uz (delivered in a triple-language format of Carrier, English, and French)
Winter in Saik’uz (delivered in a triple-language format of Carrier, English, and French)

Kanyen'keha:ka Stories
Big Bear
Kanyen’kehà:ka Clans
Creation Story Sky Woman
The Thanksgiving Address
The Game
The Three Sisters
The Woodpecker
Two Row Wampum

Kwakwaka’wakw Stories
A Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Button Blankets
Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs
Our Traditional Medicines
Planning a Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch
Strength in Our “Ways of Knowing”
The Cedar Tree Our Culture, Our Tree
Traditional Berry Picking 

Métis Stories
How the Moon Came to Be
Métis and Dandelions
Métis Singing Sticks: A Story About Métis Musical Traditions
Pemmican Berries
Poems to Honour Mother Earth
The Helpful Sasquatch
Métis Transport Boxes
The Story of the Tamarack Tree

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

Educator Information
Books in this set are recommended for primary to intermediate students.

For the books containing Carrier, downloadable pronunciation guides are available:
Spring in Saik'uz Pronunciation Guide
Summer in Saik'uz Pronunciation Guide
Fall in Saik'uz Pronunciation Guide
Winter in Saik'uz Pronunciation Guide
Berries of the Dakelh Territory Pronunciation Guide
Counting in Carrier Pronunciation Guide