Book
Secret of the dance
Record details
- ISBN: 9781554691296 (paperback)
-
Physical Description:
1 volume (unpaged) : colour illustrations ; 23 x 23 cm.
regular print
print - Publisher: Victoria, British Columbia : Orca Book Publishers, 2006.
- Copyright: ©2006.
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Potlatch -- Juvenile fiction Kwakiutl Indians -- Juvenile fiction |
| Topic Heading: | Aboriginal First Nations Adrienne Gear: Reading power Scow, Alfred - Kwakwa'ka'wakw Nations - Junior Fiction. Pender Island author |
Available copies
- 21 of 25 copies available at BC Interlibrary Connect. (Show)
- 0 of 1 copy available at Terrace Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 25 total copies.
Other Formats and Editions
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace Public Library | E Spa (Text) | 002004455 | Easy Books | Volume hold | Checked out | 2024-05-11 |
- Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2006 October #2
In defiance of an 1885 Canadian law, the Aboriginal people held their traditional ceremonials in secrecy, risking prison and the removal not only of their masks and cultural artifacts but also of their children. Based on the experience of Scow's grandfather (who went to prison for his defiance), this large, handsome picture book tells the tale from the perspective of eight-year-old Watl'kina, who steals out at night to watch the masked dancers at a secret Potlatch. The terse, plain narrative ("My parents and I never spoke of that night") is dramatically illustrated with full-page acrylics that juxtapose black-and-white scenes of daily life (including pictures of a bullying government agent) with brilliantly colored, elaborate art and costumes of the traditional ceremonies. This child's view of brave adults engaged in a secret rebellion will introduce young readers to a new piece of North American history; an appended note gives a bit more background. Give this to children who enjoyed Louise Erdrich's The Game of Silence (2005). ((Reviewed October 15, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews. - Horn Book Guide Reviews : Horn Book Guide Reviews 2007 Spring
From 1885 to 1951 Canada forbade Aboriginal people from holding Potlatches (ceremonies that honored cultural milestones) so some took the practice underground. In this innocent perspective on an act of defiance, a young boy sneaks out of his bedroom and witnesses such an illegal ritual. Gait's large-scale paintings infuse magical realism into the landscape and story. An endnote states that the story is based on Scow's childhood. Glos. Copyright 2007 Horn Book Guide Reviews. - Horn Book Magazine Reviews : Horn Book Magazine Reviews 2006 #6
The jacket illustration, a close-up of a boy's face, shows reflections of campfires in his eyes, and, indeed, the story is told from the boy's point of view, providing an innocent perspective on a powerful act of defiance. From 1885 to 1951 the Canadian government forbade Aboriginal people to participate in Potlatches, ceremonies that honored cultural milestones such as marriage and death. But some families took the practice underground, risking prison, confiscation of their masks and regalia, and even the loss of custody of their children. One night, a young boy sneaks out and witnesses such an illegal ritual and spots his father dancing as the important Hamatsa. The grownups allow him to stay, but his parents never mention the incident; the narrator recalls, "That was the only time I ever saw my father dance." With traditionally patterned orcas, fish, eagles, and bears appearing throughout, Gait's large-scale acrylic paintings reinforce the religious dimension, infusing magical realism into the landscape and story. An explanatory endnote establishes the story as historical fiction based on an incident from Scow's childhood; a glossary defines, and gives pronunciation guidance for, potentially unfamiliar terms. Still, it is that universal moment when a youngster glimpses a larger, somehow forbidden, world that provides the context for young readers. Copyright 2006 Horn Book Magazine Reviews. - Library Media Connection : Library Media Connection - March 2007
This is a recounting of a forbidden Potlatch, which in spite of government penalties until 1951, some of the Peoples continued holding. Alfred Scow, now an Aboriginal elder, witnessed one of these secret celebrations; the experience was formative and the images stayed with him. The vivid artwork depicts the traditional symbols and ceremonial regalia and adds a mystical, ethereal quality to the story. A 'Historical Note' explaining the story's origin adds to this title's usefulness. Pair this with Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith's Potlatch: A Tsimshian Celebration (Holiday House, 1997) for a fuller description of the Potlatch and its history and symbology. Purchase this for large collections about Native Peoples and where Canadian Aboriginal peoples are studied. Glossary. Additional Selection. Carol S. Surges, Library Media Specialist, McKinley Elementary, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin © 2007 Linworth Publishing, Inc. - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 2007 January
Gr 4 Up This picture book is based on an incident from Scow's childhood. In 1935, a Native boy and his family are spirited away by boat to a secret location where he witnesses a Potlatch ceremony-outlawed with severe consequences at that time by the Canadian government. This story gives readers barely a taste of the culture and vast history around the topic. Bold and colorful acrylic illustrations do serve to add drama and interest; they are interlaced with ghostly Native imagery. Names (e.g., "Watl'kina" and "Tlakwetl") and vocabulary are difficult to read and pronounce without a guide. A historical note is included, although it's at the end of the book rather than at the beginning. Younger children who gravitate to picture books may find the abstract concepts of government and prejudice difficult to comprehend. The story is far more suited to older children who would empathize with and appreciate what Native Canadians endured at this challenging time in their history. Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
[Page 138]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
