The Sockeye Mother - (Mothers of Xsan) by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw Brett D Huson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Science comes alive through vivid illustrations that explore the life cycle of the sockeye salmon.

Book Synopsis

To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the sockeye salmon is more than just a source of food. Over its life cycle, it nourishes the very land and forests that the Skeena River runs through and where the Gitxsan make their home. The Sockeye Mother explores how the animals, water, soil, and seasons are all intertwined.

Review Quotes

Highly recommended!--Debbie Reese "American Indians in Children's Literature"

A wonderful exploration of science and culture with many ties to curricula. A top selection for nonfiction collections.--Meaghan Nichols "Ontario School Library Journal"

Accessible to fluent readers in the late primary and intermediate grades, this book is a rich source of information and fits well with the Social Studies and Science curriculum.--Brenda Boreham "Canadian Teacher Magazine"

An excellent addition to curriculums that tie scientific principles to cultural practices; the work should be embraced by libraries to help educate readers about the Gitxsan.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Huson eloquently conveys the fragile interconnectedness of the natural world and the moral imperative to protect it.-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) is from the Gitxsan Nation, of the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Growing up in this strong matrilineal society, Brett developed a passion for the culture, land, and politics of his people, and a desire to share their knowledge and stories. Brett has worked in the film and television industry, and has volunteered for such organizations as Ka Ni Kanichihk and Indigenous Music Manitoba. The Sockeye Mother (winner of The Science Writers and Communicators Book Award) is Brett's first book for children.

Natasha is a freelance artist and illustrator from Vancouver, British Columbia. She has a degree in anthropology from the University of British Columbia and previously worked in publishing at the University of Victoria. Her sequential work has been published in The Other Side anthology and will appear in the forthcoming anthology This Place: 150 Years Retold. She has also illustrated a children's book, The Sockeye Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson). Natasha is a member of the Métis Nation of British Columbia. She lives in Bellingham, Washington with her partner, Sky, and their dog, Luna.