Dzawada'enuxw

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Authentic Indigenous Text
This Place Is Who We Are: Stories of Indigenous Leadership, Resilience, and Connection to Homelands
$39.95
Quantity:
Format: Paperback
Reading Level: N/A
ISBN / Barcode: 9781990776137

Synopsis:

This Place Is Who We Are profiles Indigenous communities in central and northern coastal BC that are reconnecting to their lands and waters—and growing and thriving through this reconnection.
 
Indigenous peoples and cultures are integrally connected to the land. Well-being in every sense—physical, social, environmental, economic, spiritual and cultural—depends on that relationship, which is based on a fundamental concept: when the land is well, so are the people.
 
With increasing strength, Indigenous peoples in this vast region of BC—which spans the homelands of more than two dozen First Nations and one of the largest remaining coastal temperate rainforests in the world—are restoring what has been lost through environmental depredation and healing what has been devastated by colonization.
 
This volume is a collection of ten of these inspiring stories. X̱aayda voices explain how their Rediscovery camps are healing and empowering their youth; Dzawada̱’enuxw Hereditary Chief Maxwiyalidizi K’odi Nelson shares the story of building a healing centre and ecolodge; Wei Wai Kum Chief Christopher Roberts describes the challenges and opportunities for an urban First Nation looking to prosper while protecting the environment and ancient Ligʷiłdaxʷ history and living cultural values; and many more Indigenous leaders share their own experiences of growth, strength and reconnection.
 
Thoughtful and inspiring, This Place Is Who We Are illustrates what can be accomplished when conservation and stewardship are inextricably intertwined with the prosperity and well-being of communities.
 
Reviews
“Katherine Palmer Gordon, a consummate listener, weaves a powerful tapestry of ten First Nations people, deeply grounded in land, memory and story. Their lives honour the inextinguishable inter-connectedness of humans and nature, in righteous defiance of colonization. These are stories that point to an optimistic future based on the teachings of Ancestors and Elders with a view to making the world better for children, grandchildren and children yet to come. To do this, human wellbeing and land protection must be inseparable. This book is an encounter with wonderful people doing wonderful things. This Place is Who We Are is an invitation to hope for a better society, a better world, featuring ten people creating it. I thank the contributors and Katherine Palmer Gordon for engaging in a visionary conversation.” — Shelagh Rogers, O.C. Host/Producer of The Next Chapter, CBC Radio One, Honorary Witness, Trut

“A beautiful collection of stories and lived experiences! Each with gentle and loving reminders of our sacred connections to each other, the land and water and all living beings. Individually, these stories are inspiring, hopeful and thought provoking. As a collection, majestically woven together by Katherine Palmer Gordon, they have the potential to change hearts and minds of readers, decision makers and future generations.” — Monique Gray Smith

“An astute facilitator of Indigenous governmental relationships and reconciliation, Katherine Palmer Gordon is also an award-winning writer, and a very good listener who earns trust. These deeply personal accounts of Indigenous cultural rediscovery, empowerment—and healing in a post-colonial world—are truly inspiring. Steeped in ancient connections with the land, the shared wisdom and vision of elders, youth and community leaders offer timely lessons for a healthier, more respectful relationship between people, wildlife and our planet. This is good medicine for all.” — Mark Forsythe, Co-author of The Trail of 1858: British Columbia's Gold Rush Past and former C
 
Additional Information
256 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Paperback

Authentic Canadian Content
Authentic Indigenous Text
Authentic Indigenous Artwork
Andy's Tribal Canoe Journey
Proudly Made in Canada
$21.95
Quantity:
Format: Paperback
Grade Levels: 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8;
ISBN / Barcode: 9781771746007

Synopsis:

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

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Strong Nations Publishing

2595 McCullough Rd
Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9S 4M9

Phone: (250) 758-4287

Email: contact@strongnations.com

Strong Nations - Indigenous & First Nations Gifts, Books, Publishing; & More! Our logo reflects the greater Nation we live within—Turtle Island (North America)—and the strength and core of the Pacific Northwest Coast peoples—the Cedar Tree, known as the Tree of Life. We are here to support the building of strong nations and help share Indigenous voices.