Description
Samantha Beynon was born and raised on Kxeen Island, British Columbia, on her ancestral Ts’msyen land. She now lives and works on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking Peoples and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. She has Nisg̱a'a, Ts’msyen, and European heritage with roots in Ging̱olx, Gitlax̱tʼaamiks, and Lax Kw’alaams. Maternally, she comes from Wilps Axdii Wil Luugooda (The House that is Always Full) and the Ganhada Frog Clan. She comes from the family names Beynon, Trimble, Gurney, Adams, and Fitzgerald. Samantha holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Vancouver Island University, and she is committed to lifelong learning and supporting her community through Indigenous education. She is a passionate writer and educator, a loving mother and wife, and the author of Oolichan Moon.
Illustrated by Carla Joseph, a Cree/Métis artist from Prince George, British Columbia, who loves sharing joy through her art. She was an artist-in-residence at the Prince George Community Arts Council, and she won Art Battle Prince George in 2016 and 2018. Carla’s unique artwork can be found in many children’s books, including Be a Good Ancestor and I am Connected.
“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.
Reviews
“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
“This beautiful book shares the importance of community, culture, and identity. As you make your way through the pictures and words, they bring you to an understanding of how important the Potlatch ceremony was and continues to be for Indigenous Peoples.” – Carolyn Roberts, educator, speaker, and author of Re-Storying Education