Photo Portage and Main Press
The Sockeye Mother chronicles the life cycle of sockeye salmon from birth to death incorporating First Nation's culture and science with bright illustrations for kids.
The book's author, Gitxsan Nation member Brett Huson (Hetxw’ms Gyetxw), attended the launch at Kidsbooks in Vancouver this week. To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern B.C. the sockeye salmon is more than a source of food because it nourishes the land and forests surrounding the Skeena River where the Gitxsan make their home.
Huson says the book, "shares our knowledge of the land and parallels it with science. It's connecting the dots and showing people how they relate to the world. How the environment is connected to them and how important the salmon are to the environment."
The Sockeye Mother is illustrated by Metis Nation artist Natasha Donovan, who is from Vancouver but now lives in Bellingham, Washington. "It's her first book and she did an amazing job. She brought more to the story than i could ever hope for so she's really good at what she does," he says.
Huson worked in film and television for the past decade and this is his first book. He plans to release two more in the series this year titled The Grizzly Mother and The Gitxsan Mother. His experience growing up in a strong matrilineal society motivated him to bring forward a different perspective through the books by highlighting "the importance of women in all cultures. They are our life givers."
Huson hopes the book series helps his daughter "to understand that she's not going to be limited. She has the ability to do all the things she needs to do" and helps his son "understand the importance of women in his life."
After the launch in Vancouver he led a reading and discussion at two schools in Prince George and is now heading to 'Ksan Historical Village and Museum in Hazelton.
Brett Huson (right) with Ronnie Dean Harris (left) also known as hip-hop artist Ostwelve, who hosted the launch.
