Secret of the Dance

Publisher's description (Orca Book Publishing, 2017): 
In 1935, a nine-year-old boy's family held a forbidden Potlatch in faraway Kingcome Inlet. Watl'kina slipped from his bed to bear witness. In the Big House masked figures danced by firelight to the beat of the drum. And there, he saw a figure he knew. Aboriginal elder Alfred Scow and award-winning author Andrea Spalding collaborate to tell the story, to tell the secret of the dance.

Author and Illustrator biographies (Orca Book Publishing, 2017): 
Andrea Spalding is an author, artist, teacher and musician. She has written over 30 books including Secret of the Dance, Solomon's Tree and The Keeper and the Crows. Andrea's books have won and been shortlisted for numerous awards and honors including the BC Book Prize, Blue Spruce Award, Chocolate Lily Award, Rocky Mountain Book Award and the Red Cedar Award. She lives in Pender Island, British Columbia.

Darlene Gait was born on Vancouver Island and began painting as a child. Inspired by nature and by her Coast Salish heritage, Darlene brings a rich understanding of the natural world to her work, which is held in private collections and exhibited worldwide. Darlene lives in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Grade 1 - 6

Keywords: dancing, Kwick'wa'sut'eneuk, potlatch, policy, historical, colonialism, potlach ceremony, dance, culture, tradition, reclammation of culture, elders, Indian agent, language, grandmother, beliefs, tales, feast, regalia, effects of colonialism, Afred Scow

Year of publication: 2006

Publisher information: Orca Book Publishers