Follow the Water: Children’s Book Series

January 30th, 2021 - March 20th, 2021
Toni ONley GALLERY

exhibition partner:

Theytus Books

FEATURED ARTISTS:

HARRON HALL / RON HALL / SHIANNA ALLISON / PHYLLIS ISAAC / BILL COHEN

These stories introduce young readers to Syilx culture. The Follow the Water Book Series explores in English and N’syilxcən (Okanagan language) the importance of water to indigenous cultures and expresses the need to love, respect and protect it. The focus of the book series communicates the Syilx Okanagan water perspective and how it relates to healthy eco-systems.

The book series was created with guidance from Syilx Traditional Ecological Knowledge Keepers and these educational materials have been designed to align with the new BC Curriculum integrating Indigenous traditional science perspectives and knowledge related to ecology, natural systems, the water cycle and social sciences.

The four stories created for this series and published by Theytus Books are authored, illustrated and curated by Syilx nation members. The author of all four titles is Harron Hall, an emerging writer from the Syilx and Nla’kapamux Nations. Her work combines traditional storytelling methods with modern artistic expressions including performance art and in her written narratives as well. Harron has a deep commitment to protect the land and water. She holds up her responsibility to the environment by educating people on the importance of sustainability.

iʔ siwɬkw nkwancinәm k̕әl suliʔ (The Water Sings to Suliʔ) is an original story with a universal message, shedding light on the importance of water as a living entity. The story feature’s a young girl named suliʔ who hears the song of the water calling for her while playing outside. suliʔ ventures out of her yard and into the forest. Along the way she meets an unexpected magic water child. The water child entrusts suliʔ with an important message to share with the world.

Shianna Allison (illustrator) is a Syilx, Yakama, and Stolo multi-disiplinary artist from the lower Similkameen Indian Band. She was trained by her grandmother in traditional arts. Her art style is a combination of traditional and modern art. Her future goal is to create video games based on captikwl that will include nsyilxcen language, remembering protocols, and the responsibility as syilx people to be the caretakers of the land. She is convinced everyone has the ability to stand for our tmxulaxʷ.

kәxntim sʕanixʷ k̕әl nixʷtitkʷ acxʷәl̕xʷalt (We Go with Muskrat to Those Living Underwater) is an interactive story, with sʕanixʷ (Muskrat) in the lead readers can learn both the n’syilxwcn and English names of underwater creatures living in the Okanagan valley. The book seamlessly combines beautiful imagery with amusing descriptions as Muskrat introduces a diverse set of underwater creatures.

Ron Hall (illustrator) is an Aboriginal artist of Okanagan and Thompson ancestry and is a member of the Osoyoos Band. The father of five children, he is recognized for his efforts to protect the environment and the rights of Indigenous peoples. He participated in an art exhibit at the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Moscow and in Siberia. One of his paintings is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery in Ottawa. Ron resides in Osoyoos, British Columbia.

skɬp’lk’mitkw (The Water Changeling) is a story about the natural water cycle from a Syilx traditional ecological knowledge perspective. The story features a water girl named, skɬp’lk’mitkw she longs to visit with her grandparents and receives help from newfound friends. They help change her into rain, hail, and snow, so she can reach her grandparents.

Phyllis Isaac (illustrator) is an elder and a visual artist from the Penticton Indian Band of the Okanagan Nation. She enjoys experimenting in a variety of art forms. From pencil, pen, painting and sculptures, she works with a variety of natural materials, integrating many into her works of art.

kʷu‿c̕әxʷ̌әntim tәl stunx isck’ʷuls (Lessons from Beaver’s Work) is meant to teach children to hold reverence for all life forms through storytelling. The book depicts a conflict between Tapi̓t, a rancher, and stunx (beaver), as they both try to meet their water needs. The touching humanity of stunx (beaver) softens Tapi̓ts’ outlook, as he reminds Tapi̓t that he is not the only one that depends on water.

Bill Cohen (illustrator) is from the Okanagan Nation with extensive kinship ties throughout BC and Washington. He specializes in the areas of Indigenous knowledge, research, education, and transforming pedagogy. For over twenty-five years, he has engaged in community driven, transforming projects, as parent, volunteer, advisor, facilitator, and director. He is an educator, artist, story-teller and author. The focus of Bill’s continuing research is to identify, understand and theorize the transforming potential of Indigenous and Okanagan knowledge and pedagogy through organic language and cultural knowledge revitalization.

This important annual exhibition series continues in the memory of the late Dr. Greg Younging, Managing Editor of Theytus Books (1990-2003 and 2016-2019). Theytus Books is a leading North American publisher of Indigenous voices. Located in Syilx territory on the Penticton Indian Reserve in British Columbia, Theytus Books is proudly Indigenous owned and operated in partnership with the En’owkin Centre. As the oldest Indigenous publishing house in Canada, Theytus Books is recognized and respected internationally for its contributions to Indigenous literature. Since its inception in 1980, Theytus Books has been a leading proponent of Indigenous authors, illustrators, and artists. It ensures that their voices and visions are expressed with the highest level of cultural authenticity and integrity.

Paul Crawford, Curator