CANADIAN ABORIGINAL BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS 2015–2016 CATALOGUE
7
SEC
OND
AR
Y
BETTY
THE HELEN BETTY OSBORNE
STORY
David Alexander
Robertson
Scott B. Henderson, illus.
Helen Betty Osborne, a Cree
woman born in 1952, was sexu-
ally assaulted, raped, and mur-
dered on November 13, 1971 in
La Pas, Manitoba. This graphic
novel presents the days sur-
rounding this crime and the sad
and tragic details of the event.
The stark gray-scale drawings
and the minimal text empha-
size the subsequent neglect
that Helen’s case received in
the years following. This is an
engaging and empathetic visual
description of this life, this
death, and its singular depiction
of sexism, racism, and indiffer-
ence that has been for years the
story of so many indigenous
women. In it the reader moves
beyond “name and statistic” to a
face and a person.
GRADES: 8–12, LAW, SOCIAL
STUDIES
Index/Bibliography: No/No
©2015 32pp. 6.5"x10"
b/w line drawings
ISBN 9781553795445 $16.00 PA
epub 9781553795469 $12.80
HIghWater Press
www.highwaterpress.com
DREAMING IN INDIAN
CONTEMPORARY NATIVE
AMERICAN VOICES
Lisa Charleyboy & Mary
Beth Leatherdale, eds.
This is a collection of creative
works by Aboriginal youth
living in both Canada and the
US. In Lee Maracle’s foreword
she states that, “oppressed
people…can’t imagine anything
better. Once you can, you’re on
your way”. Through art, dance,
acting, photo collages, lyrics,
stories, interviews, memories
from elders, and short essays,
these youth abound with
creativity and imagination.
They portray their experiences
of poverty, racism, bullying,
abuse, addictions, reserve
life, urban living, and loss of
cultural identity. Part 3 titled
“Medicines” focuses on what
has given them the strength
to find their gifts and reclaim
their cultural heritage through
the arts, allowing them to break
the negative cycles which have
claimed the lives of family and
friends. Richly illustrated with
examples of their creative work
and photographs of the artists.
GRADES: 8–12, VISUAL ARTS
Index/Bibliography: No/No
©2014 128pp. 8.5"x11"
colour reproductions and
photographs
ISBN 9781554516872 $19.95 HC
epub 9781554516889 $9.99
Annick Press
www.annickpress.com
THE FIRST NATIONS
OF BRITISH
COLUMBIA, 3RD
EDITION
AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL
OVERVIEW
Robert J. Muckle
Now in its third edition, this
book is a concise and accessible
overview of BC
’
s First Nations
peoples, cultures, and issues.
Muckle educates readers about
the history, diversity, and com-
plexity of Aboriginal peoples.
The text examines archaeologi-
cal research and how ancestry is
traced through archaeological
sites, artifacts, and DNA. The
impact of the arrival of the
Europeans is examined through
both a historical and religious
context. The author explores
such topics as the impact of fur
traders, gold seekers, missionar-
ies, settlers, residential schools,
government policies, and treaty
negotiations.
GRADES: 10–12, HISTORY, SOCIAL
JUSTICE, SOCIAL STUDIES,
TEACHER RESOURCE
©2014 184pp. 5.5"x8.5"
colour photographs, map
ISBN 9780774828734 $27.95 PA
epub (library) 9780774828745 $99.00
epub
(consumer)
9780774828758 $27.95
UBC Press
www.ubcpress.ca
FROM THE WEST
COAST TO THE
WESTERN FRONT
BRITISH COLUMBIANS AND THE
GREAT WAR
Mark Forsythe &
Greg Dickson
This book tells the amazing sto-
ries and often tragic ends of the
lives of British Columbian men
and women—not only WASPs
but also First Nations, Japanese,
and Chinese Canadians—inv-
olved in the WWI. In a clearly
written, well-researched, engag-
ing narrative their contribu-
tions are described. One reads
of the many Victoria Cross
recipients and their deeds of
heroism. The fascinating story
of conscientious objectors such
as Ginger Goodwin is described.
Conscription and its use is pre-
sented along with references to
many war heroes from BC such
as Flowerdew, Currie, Collishaw,
Pearkes, and McLean. One reads
about the flourishing and use
of the literary and visual arts on
the battlefield as well as the hor-
rors of trench warfare.
GRADES: 8–12, SOCIAL STUDIES,
TEACHER RESOURCE
Index/Bibliography: Yes/Yes
©2014 264pp. 8.5"x10"
b/w photographs & line drawings,
maps
ISBN 9781550176667 $26.95 PA
epub 9781550176674 $26.95
Harbour Publishing
www.harbourpublishing.com
8
ASSOCIATION OF BOOK PUBLISHERS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA www.books.bc.ca
SEC
OND
AR
Y
GREY EYES
A NOVEL
Frank Christopher Busch
Inspired by the birth of his own
grey-eyed child, Busch sought
out the traditional Grey-Eye leg-
ends. He blended what little had
been retained throughout the
last century with long-standing
First Nations and Métis teach-
ings to create the culture and
lifestyle depicted in his debut
novel. Set long ago, a baby boy is
born to the poorest lodge of the
Nehiyawak people. Immediately
recognizing his Grey-Eye magic,
the family realizes that their
situation has changed. As Little
Grey Bear Boy grows up and
is trained, a danger for both
him and his community grows
stronger. Life lived by the tradi-
tional teachings is threatened by
one final violent, magic-fueled
struggle between good and evil.
Caution: Contains consider-
able graphic violence including
injury and death. Magic plays a
considerable role in the plot as
does the portrayal of tradi-
tional Aboriginal teachings and
practices.
GRADES: 8–12, ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS
Index/Bibliography: No/No
©2014 336pp. 5.5"x8.5"
ISBN 9781552666777 $20.95 PA
epub 9781552666975 $20.95
Roseway Publishing
www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/
Roseway
ISLAND’S SPIRIT
RISING
RECLAIMING THE FORESTS OF
HAIDA GWAII
Louise Takeda
This scholarly study traces the
long-term conflict over the
islands’ ancient forests and
events that unfolded in the
context of collaborative land-use
planning. Aggressive logging
over the past century has threat-
ened both the environmental
biodiversity and the cultural
values of the Haida people who
rely on these forests. As early as
1974 Guujaaw (known then as
Gary Edenshaw) organized the
first formal committee of Haida
and non-Haida residents to
formally lodge a statement with
the government to protect the
region from logging. In 2005, a
barricade named Island’s Spirit
Rising was constructed to block
access to Weyerhaeuser’s log-
ging operations. The text follows
the government’s responses to
this economic crisis. The book
concludes with the 2011 official
naming ceremony of Haida
Gwaii.
LIFE CYCLE OF A LIE
Sylvia Olsen
This novel takes place in a small
BC town. Vik, meets the new
student Jonas on the first day of
high school. Both Vik and her
boyfriend, Linc, become good
friends with Jonas, and they are
all part of an environmental
group called SOS (Save our
Streams). Jonas unintention-
ally causes tension in Vik and
Linc’s relationship. Jonas is then
accused of a crime which only
Vik can tell the truth about.
The novel covers issues such as
racial tension between non-First
Nations and First Nations in the
community, personal concerns
around sexuality, and the com-
plexities of family relationships.
Caution: This book contains
coarse language, descrip-
tions of physical violence,
sexuality, domestic abuse, and
discrimination.
GRADES: 10–12, ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS
Index/Bibliography: No/No
©2014 247pp. 5.5"x8.5"
ISBN 9781550392333 $14.95 PA
epub 9781550392388 $7.95
Sono Nis Press
www.sononis.com
ME ARTSY
Drew Hayden Taylor, ed.
This anthology of 14 essays by
prominent Aboriginal artists
addresses how the authors
became artists, what inspired
them, how their Aboriginal
identity affects their art and
their relationship to it. The term
“art” is interpreted broadly. Chef
David Wolfman describes gruel-
ling years training in exclusive
kitchens, filmmaker Zacharias
Kunuk discusses beginning
his first feature film without
knowing how to finance it, and
playwright Drew Hayden Taylor
tells the story of burying his first
play. Other contributors include
painter Marianne Nicolson,
fashion designer Kim Picard,
painter Maxine Noel, blues
pianist Murray Porter, scholar
Karyn Recollet, traditional
drummer Steve Teekens, writer
and storyteller Richard Van
Camp and manga artist Michael
Nicoll Yahgulanaas. This
inspiring anthology reveals an
engaging view of Canada’s con-
temporary Aboriginal cultural
producers with imagination and
humour.
GRADES: 10–12, BUSINESS
EDUCATION, CAPP, ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL
STUDIES, VISUAL ARTS.
Index/Bibliography: No/No
©2015 256pp. 5.5"x8"
Black & White photos and drawings
ISBN 9781771620703 $22.95 PA
epub 9781771620710 $22.95
Douglas & McIntyre
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
GRADES: 11–12, SOCIAL JUSTICE,
SOCIAL STUDIES, TEACHER
RESOURCE
Index/Bibliography: Yes/Yes
©2014 264pp. 6"x9"
b/w photographs, map, tables
ISBN 9780774827652 $95.00 HC
ISBN 9780774827669 $32.95 PA
epub 9781552666975 $20.95
ebook
(library
) 9780774827676 $99.00
epub (consumer)
9780774827683 $32.95
UBC Press
www.ubcpress.ca