Dancing With the Cranes

Publisher's Description (Theytus Books): 
Dancing with the Cranes gives an understanding of birth, life and death. Chi's momma is soon to have a baby, but Chi is having a hard time being happy about it. Chi misses Temma (her grandma), who has passed away. Chi's momma and daddy help ease the pain of losing Temma and help Chi to understand life and death as a part of nature. Chi soon finds herself feeling comforted, knowing Temma will always be a part of her and looking forward to the new baby who will be a part of their lives.

Creator Biographies (Theytus Books): 
Jeannette Armstrong is Syilx Okanagan, a fluent speaker and teacher of the Nsyilxcn Okanagan language and a traditional knowledge keeper of the Okanagan Nation. She currently is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Okanagan Philosophy at UBC Okanagan. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Ethics and Syilx Indigenous Literatures.

Ron Hall 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 people. 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.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Grades 2-5

Keywords: Syilx Okanagan Nation, pregnancy, emotions, blessing, spring, geese, onomatopoeia, grandma, Temma, ducks, sad, swans, loon, gull, Saskatoon berry, food, cranes, life cycle, migration, worry, grief, death, attunement, song, sing, memory, round dance, father, reunification, joy, happiness, happy, Penticton Indian Band, trans-boundary tribe

Year of publication: 2005

Publisher information: Theytus Books