Mayuk the Grizzly Bear: A Legend of the Sechelt People

by Charlie Craigan (Illustrator), The Sechelt Nation

Overview

These traditional teaching legends come straight from the oral traditions of the Sechelt Nation. Simple enough to be understood by young children, yet compelling enough for adults, they are gentle, beautifully presented cautionary tales. You'll want to read them again and again - and you'll learn a few words of the Shishalh language while you're at it. Charlie Craigan is a young Sechelt artist who works in a tiny studio set up in his bedroom. He studied traditional wood carving with Sechelt Nation carvers, but learned to draw and paint by studying books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780889711563
Publisher:	Nightwood Editions
Publication date:	01/01/1993
Series:	Legends of the Sechelt Nation Series , #2
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

Charlie Craigan was born in Sechelt in 1969. His natural artistic talent began showing itself when he was still a Grade 5 student at Sechelt Elementary and was further developed while working with local carvers Arnold Jones and Jamie Jeffries. He is a member of the Sechelt Indian Band and resides in Sechelt.

The Sechelt Nation, a division of the Coast Salish family of First Nations, originally occupied the southern portion of what is now known as the Sunshine Coast of BC. At the time of contact with Europeans, the shishalh (Sechelt people) were a populous and peaceful people occupying some 80 scattered village sites. Estimates of original population range from 5,000 to 20,000, but by the time of the first official census in 1881, the Sechelt population had plunged to 167, mainly due to introduced diseases. In this century, the band staged a remarkable comeback. Today the Sechelt are one of Canada's most progressive First Nations groups, running a number of successful businesses. In 1986 the passage of Bill C-93 made the Sechelt Indian Band the first in Canada to achieve self-government. The band now numbers more than 1,000 members, about half of whom live on band lands.

Editorial Reviews

This is a delightful illustrated story of how one great-grandfather decides to give his great-grandson his special name in the Sechelt language. The great-grandfather, an elder of the people, is known as Joe La Dally. He feels very proud of his great-grandson as he watches him grow. He notices how bold and clever the boy is, unlike other, timid babies. So at the time appointed for bestowing the name on the child, according to tradition, he sits the child on his knee and everyone gathers around as the old man begins to tell a story. He tells of a time before the white man came to the lands of the Sechelt, and what life was like for them. There were so many people that the hunters had to be fierce, strong, and wise with their bows and arrows during a hunt. The most powerful and feared animal was Mayuk, the grizzly bear. Only the bravest of hunters dared to hunt Mayuk. The hunters of the Sechelt were very brave and strong, but there were three brothers that were bigger, stronger, and braver than all the rest. One day on their hunting trip, they saw their greatest foe, Mayuk. Readers of all ages will enjoy this adventurous tale. The illustrations are based on the Sechelt heritage; Chalie Craigan, the illustrator, is Sechelt. He dedicates this book to the elders of the Sechelt nation. Reviewer: Laura J. Brown

Children's Literature - Laura J. Brown