Even if you’ve lived on San Juan Island for a long time Mt Baker can catch you by surprise and take your breath away with its snow clad beauty. Called Komo Kulshan by native tribes it is not unusual to see a plume of steam above the volcano’s crater. Mt Baker last erupted in 1943 causing a forest fire and coating the surrounding area with ash.
Detail from Frog Girl written and illustrated by Paul Owen LewisIn his companion book to Storm Boy, Paul Owen Lewis tells the story of Frog Girl who follows her animal guide beneath the lake beside her village. She is inducted into the Frog Clan and given an appeal and a warning by Volcano Mother. Frog girl risks her life to return captured frogs to the lake just in time for their songs to accompany the rain quenching the volcanic fires that threaten to destroy her village. In native mythology frogs are associated with rain and wealth.
Detail from Frog Girl written and illustrated by Paul Owen LewisFrog Girl is available at the Whale Museum. A portion of the proceeds from the book is donated to the Haida Gwaii Rediscovery program for tribal youth. All purchases at the Whale Museum promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I think I will leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful book, however it concerns me that it is written by a non indigenous writer. Did he have permission to share a story that was not his?Likewise his Author's note, compares the story to "Joseph Campbells" idea of the hero's journey. Campbell is a brilliant mind,... however also a white man. Where is the indigenous perspective on an indigenous story? To honour indigenous life and story,is not to colonialize it. BTW I am white.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful book, however it concerns me that it is written by a non indigenous writer. Did he have permission to share a story that was not his?Likewise his Author's note, compares the story to "Joseph Campbells" idea of the hero's journey. Campbell is a brilliant mind,... however also a white man. Where is the indigenous perspective on an indigenous story? To honour indigenous life and story,is not to colonialize it. BTW I am white.
ReplyDelete