Peska & the First Salmon Ceremony

Itand#8217;s the day of the first salmon ceremony, and P'and#233;sk'a is excited to celebrate. His community, the Stsand#8217;ailes people, give thanks to the river and the salmon it brings by commemorating the first salmon of the season. Framed as an exploration of what life was like for the Stsand#8217;ailes people one thousand years ago,and#160;P'and#233;sk'a and the First Salmon Ceremonyand#160;describes the customs of the Stsand#8217;ailes people, an indigenous group who have lived on the Harrison River in British Columbia for the last 10,000 years. Includes an introductory letter from Chief William Charlie, an illustrated afterword and a glossary.

"With the tray under his arm, P'and#233;sk'a goes looking for the Si:yam, the chief. and#160;Every spring P'and#233;sk'aand#8217;s people celebrate the First Salmon Ceremony.and#160; Itand#8217;s their way of saying thank you and#8212; and#8220;Huy ch qand#8217;u!and#8221; and#8212; to the river for all the salmon it brings."

and#8212; from the book

"An afterword furnishes more about this ancient band's way of life, and a short glossary provides an opportunity to sample its language. . . . A good initial introduction to a lesser-known First Nations people." andmdash; Kirkus Reviews

Scot Ritchie is an award-winning illustrator and author with more than 50 books to his credit. His books have been translated into French, Korean, Indonesian, Polish, Finnish, Arabic and Dutch. He has worked with the National Film Board of Canada and has had his illustrations exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada. He lives in Vancouver.