Cloudwalker

by Roy Henry Vickers, Robert Budd

"Cloudwalker," describing the creation of the rivers, is the second in a series of Northwest Coast legends by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd. Their previous collaboration, "Raven Brings the Light" (2013), is a national bestseller. On British Columbia's northwest coast lies the Sacred Headwaters--the source of three of British Columbia's largest salmon-bearing rivers. These rivers are the source of life for all creatures in the area. But what gave life to the rivers themselves? Astace, a young Gitxsan hunter, is intent on catching a group of swans with his bare hands. He is carried away by the birds' powerful wings and dropped in the clouds. With only a cedar box of water Astace wanders the clouds, growing weaker, stumbling and spilling the contents. When he finally returns to earth he discovers lakes, creeks, and rivers where there were none before. The Gitxsan rejoice at having him home, and name the new river they live alongside Ksien--"juice from the clouds." Roy Henry Vickers' vibrant artwork, including 18 new prints, accompany this new retelling of an ancient story--readers of all ages will be captivated.

Genres: Indigenous, Picture Books, Childrens, Environment, Art, Animals, Canada

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2014

Reviews

[Steven Petalik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cloudwalker was a finalist for the 2015 BC Bill Duthie Booksellers Choice award and the 2015 Chocolate Lily award.

Cloudwalker is a beautifully illustrated story filled with vibrant artwork. It tells of the creation of 3 of the largest salmon bearing rivers in Northern British Columbia.

The story tells how the rivers are a major part of the food chain and connect all life.

My one complaint is it would be cool if there was a map but happily one is included in the weblink given on the last page: https://memoriestomemoirs.ca/portfoli....

[Degan Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about Gitxsan people

[Yoo Kyung Sung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustration and my first time reading a story of the Tahltan Nation in northern British Columbia. It is good to get reminded of cultural patterns and symbols that I saw in Vancouver B.C.

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Wow! The colours, the illustrations, the story, the history, the timelessness. Beautiful. A treasure.

[Tyrell Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Minimal dialogue
- origin of the land framing the story, cloudwalker myth, and then the resulting impact of the created water on local wild life
- Single character w/ the people
- character provides for the people, models behaviour
- Protagonist has no spouse
- Fantastic tale believed by the people
- Theme of this is how it was before the Europeans in the framing pieces

[Marmot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book about the origins of some large rivers in northern bc. I loved the phase "juice from the clouds". Sometimes the text was a bit long to hold my kids attention - a mixture of storytelling an old tale mixed with non fiction facts about First Nations from the area.

[Hugh Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cloudwalker is beautifully told & Illustrated story that tells of the creation of 3 of the largest salmon bearing rivers in Northern British Columbia. It also masterfully shares how these rivers are the source of life for all the creatures in the area. #mcdreads

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

On British Columbia's northwest coast lies the Sacred Headwaters--the source of three of British Columbia's largest salmon-bearing rivers. This ancient legend and the art of Roy Henry Vickers bring the Indigenous teaching about the need to care for our sources of water to life. Beautiful.

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful paintings by a local artist. I am glad Mr. Vickers took the time to put a traditional story onto paper.

[Susan Sikic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially loved the illustrations that go along with the myth/legend of Cloudwalker!

[Victoria Roberts]

I love this book, the story is a very entrancing story. the artwork makes the books great for kids but pretty to look at.

[Rainbow]

ok

[Susannah Kotyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully artistic vision of the story of the man Astace and how he got his name Cloudwalker. A story set in beautiful British Columbia, Canada it tells of the story of cloudwalker and how because of his greed he ended up spilling water from the clouds above to only find out that where the water had spilled rivers were formed. Rivers that held salmon, salmon that fed bears and how these new rivers sustained life.

It is in picture book format but has a lot of text and it would be recommended for an older child to read or have it as a read aloud.

Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award nominee 2015