Description
“Papa, what is a Potlatch?” Inspired by Ts’msyen Chief William Beynon’s historic notebooks on Potlatches in the Gitxsan village of Gitsegukla, Celebrating Potlatches pairs intergenerational storytelling with beautiful illustrations to honour Indigenous traditions. From the award-winning author of Oolichan Moon and the accomplished illustrator of Be a Good Ancestor, this book recounts the 1885 Potlatch ban and the resilience of the communities who fought to keep their traditions alive.
Author Bio
Samantha Beynon was born and raised on Kxeen Island (Prince Rupert), BC, on her ancestral Ts’msyen Sm’algya̱x-speaking Peoples’ land. She now lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, in Victoria, BC. She is of Nisga’a, Ts’msyen and European heritage. Samantha holds a master’s in educational leadership from VIU and is currently pursuing a PhD to further her research and education. She is a writer, educator and mother, dedicated to community, storytelling and promoting Indigenous education. She is also the author of the award-winning children’s book, Oolichan Moon (2022).
Review Quotes
“Heartfelt and timely, Celebrating Potlatches gifts readers with cultural teachings through an intergenerational account of Indigenous resilience. This book is a beautiful tribute to the author’s great-grandfather, William Beynon, whose life’s work documenting oral histories of Sm’algya̱x-speaking Peoples and their Potlatches continues to be foundational to our cultural resurgence today.” – Sm Łoodm ‘Nüüsm (Dr. Mique’l Dangeli), Sm’algya̱x language expert and Assistant Professor of Indigenous Arts at the University of Victoria
