Returning to the Yakoun River

This glimpse into the childhood memories of a Haida family at their fish camp will immerse readers in the rhythm and teachings of an indigenous tradition. The returning salmon are of primal importance to the Haida Gwaii community, and the fishers must follow nature’s schedule. But, while the adults fish, the visiting children enjoy freedom from usual at-home routines that staying in a rustic cedar cabin brings: blanket caves on the bed for warmth, sugary cereal not eaten at home, fetching water in big blue jugs from a spring since there is no running water. Under the wise tutelage of Grandfather/Tsinii, play replaces chores: running in the grass, riding a makeshift teeter-totter, pretending to be at sea while sitting in the tied-up motorboat. Of course, the salmon catch means delicious dinners eaten around the fire, traditional songs and music before bedtime….and falling asleep listening to Tsinii’s snores.

Anyone who has ever gone camping will already have the feel for some of this detail. The salmon, the drums and songs—and the misty, moody Yakoun River setting—make this experience uniquely Haida. The detailed illustrations in somber blues and greens capture the sense of place on a cool, cloudy June morning on this tidal river. Thick stands of evergreens line the riverbank where cabins are snuggled together, their shapes reflected as watery images. The illustrator favors soft-detail closeups, a nice technique to bring readers right into the authentic setting. Besides the visual content, other sensory details fill the scene: sounds (boat motors, waves lapping), and tastes (sweet cereal, salmon cooked on an open fire). The double spread image of baking salmon is mouth-watering.

Returning to the Yakoun River, the third title in the “Sk’ad’a Stories Series”, is well worth adding to your collection.