Abalone Woman - (Little Wolf) by Teoni Spathelfer (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture. Little Wolf's own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community."--

Book Synopsis

A vivid dream teaches Little Wolf about courage and acceptance of those who are different, and inspires her to show her daughters and their classmates how to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds.

Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture. Little Wolf's own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community. Told with powerful imagery and symbolism, Abalone Woman is the third book in the Little Wolf series, which presents themes of racism, trauma, and family unity through relatable, age-appropriate narratives.

Review Quotes

"Abalone Woman is a beautiful story of courage and identity,
grounded in the values of sharing our culture and heritage. It is a
gentle and impactful story, interwoven with resilience, healing and
family. Teoni Spathelfer is a gifted modern-day Indigenous storyteller
whose voice comes at a crucial time in our history as Indigenous
Peoples."
--K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor, Heiltsuk Tribal Council

"This beautiful book draws from traditional ways of knowing and
living with each other, such as dreams and intuition, to help all of us
to see through contemporary, real-world challenges such as fear of
difference, racism, and self-doubt so that we can step forward and
lovingly guide our Nations forward."
--Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, QC, co-author (with Sara Florence Davidson) of Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii

"The story of Abalone Woman touched my heart as I
experienced racism as a youth. Teoni's story of how she overcame it
through her culture speaks of the power of stories and dreams. Being
recognized for not copying the harmful actions of others is
inspirational to all Nation groups. Respect the diversity."
--Elroy White, archaeologist of Haíɫzaqv descent and a potlatch historian, Central Coast Archaeology

"Teoni Spathelfer seamlessly educates and encapsulates the importance of Indigenous history within this book. Abalone Women
is the perfect example of educating people with Canada's tragic past
while ultimately displaying the resilience of Canada's First Peoples.
The dream inside this book is a healing tool for all who wish to
reconcile together."
--Tchadas Leo, creator and host of Our Native Land