A beautifully drawn comic book inspired by Japanese manga and Indigenous art and legend This powerful story about a brave hummingbird shares a message of environmental stewardship Hummingbirds have long been a symbol of wisdom and courage. In this breathtaking book, a hummingbird makes a valiant effort to put out a raging fire that threatens her forest home. She makes many trips over the burning woodland because her tiny beak can only hold one drop of water at a time. Her efforts show the other creatures in the forest that doing something—anything—is better than doing nothing at all. Will they join her in her fight to save their home? The hummingbird parable, which originates with the Quechuan people of South America, has become a talisman for environmentalists and activists worldwide committed to making meaningful change. This retelling, enlivened by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ fabulous Haida-Manga illustrations, is suitable for all ages of would-be activists. Although environmental responsibility often seems like an overwhelming task, The Flight of the Hummingbird shows how easy it is to start and how great the effect could be if everyone just did what they could.
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is an award-winning visual contemporary artist, author and professional speaker. His work has been seen in public spaces, museums, galleries and private collections across the globe. Institutional collections include the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Seattle Art Museum and Vancouver Art Gallery. His large sculptural works are part of the public art collection of the Vancouver International Airport, City of Vancouver, City of Kamloops and University of British Columbia. Yahgulanaas's publications include national bestsellers Flight of the Hummingbird and RED, a Haida Manga. When not writing or producing art, Yahgulanaas pulls from his 20 years of political experience in the Council of the Haida Nation and travels the world speaking to businesses, institutions and communities about social justice, community building, communication and change management. His most recent talks include the American Museum of Natural History and TEDxVancouver 2015.
Yahgulanaas became a full-time artist after many decades working in the Haida Nation's successful campaign to protect its biocultural diversity; however, he began to play as an artist much earlier. As the descendant of iconic artists Isabella Edenshaw, Charles Edenshaw and Delores Churchill, his early training was under exceptional creators and master carvers of talented lineage. It wasn't until the late 1990s after an exposure to Chinese brush techniques, under the tutelage of Cantonese master Cai Ben Kwon, that he consciously began to merge Haida and Asian artistic influences into his self-taught practice, and innovated the art form called "Haida Manga."
Haida Manga blends North Pacific Indigenous iconographies and framelines with the graphic dynamism of Asian manga. It is committed to hybridity as a positive force that opens a third space for critical engagement and is weaved through his art, books and speeches. Haida Manga offers an empowering and playful way of viewing and engaging with social issues as it seeks participation, dialogue, reflection and action.
Yahgulanaas's visual practice encompasses a variety of different art forms including large-scale public art projects, mixed media sculptures and canvases, re-purposed automobile parts, acrylics, watercolours, ink drawings, ceramics and illustrated publications. Exploring themes of identity, environmentalism and the human condition he uses art and speaking opportunities to communicate a world view that while particular to Haida Gwaii - his ancestral North Pacific archipelago - is also relevant to a contemporary and internationally-engaged audience.
Influenced by both the tradition of Haida iconography and contemporary Asian visual culture, Yahgulanaas has created a practice that is celebrated for its vitality, relevancy and originality.
Illustrated storybook with accompanying notes by The Dalai Lama and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maatha. Yahgulanaas adapts the Quechuan myth of the "Flight of the Hummingbird" into this short work, richly illustrated by his signature Haida manga style.
Yahgulanaas is a First Nations artist from Haida Gwaii in the Pacific Northwest, an archipelago off the coast of colonized British Columbia, Canada. His artistic style is a fusion of traditional Haida carving and art, blended with Chinese style brush works and Japanese manga graphics. This book showases the art in the signature red, black, and white colors of the Haida people.
This book is so short, it qualifies almost more as a poem--and is equally beautiful.
Lushly illustrated, each of the 5 short chapters speaks eloquently to social and environmental responsibility. While this may sound dry or preachy, it is neither. The beauty of the book is matched by the precise writing involved in each of the 5 short chapters, the message therein.
The parable of the hummingbird, how such a small and seemingly insignificant creature, could take on a forest fire serves as a jumping off point for brief discussions, thoughtful musings, about how each one of us need not forget the power in simply trying to change our world (or our situation) for the better.
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Wangari Maathai and HH the Dalai Lama each contribute to this wonderful little book.
Esta lectura me ha enfurecido, con la edad y mis circunstancias soy muy crítica ante las narrativas que idealizan el poder de la acción individual, estoy agotada de ver cómo se simplifica problemas muy complejos, ¿cómo que un pequeño colibrí acabará con el incendio de un bosque? ¡Estamos tontos! Y si no te ha gustado, ¿por qué la traes? Porque a pesar de mi escepticismo, un cuento siempre es una herramienta para inculcar valores y el cuento no dice que el colibrí lo consiguió. Es importante que los niños comprendan que el ser humano no sobrevivirá en un entorno sin árboles, los problemas ambientales son reales, pero también el problema social, la culpa no es del hombre de a pie, los que dirigen el mundo marcan las reglas del juego, es importante la acción de cada uno de nosotros, pero tenemos que exigir responsabilidades políticas, a las empresas. Lo siento mucho, pero la palabrería de hoy responde a la impotencia y la frustración que llevo meses cargando.
Por eso me gustan los cuentos noruegos, no te hacen creer que el mundo es mejor si intentas hacer el bien, no te crean ilusiones, el mundo está en manos de los poderosos, cada cosa que se hace enriquece a alguien, el tema, no sabemos a quién. La complejidad de los problemas ambientales no los vamos a solucionar los tipos de a pie, ni siquiera tenemos medios ni organismos a los que acudir, ¿quién destroza un monte? Quien puede hacerlo. Quien sabe que es intocable, este es un grave problema social, de antes y de ahora, el político es intocable. Mi experiencia personal me ha hecho muy crítica, ya lo era, pero ahora un poco más.
4.5 Me gustó mucho el mensaje que enseña sobre como cada uno de nosotros puede aportar al cambio y cuidar al medio ambiente, además de las hermosas ilustraciones y las interesantes biografías.
frases favoritas: 1. una de las lecciones mas importantes que he aprendido es que todos los seres humanos necesitan saber que sus decisiones cuentan. debemos saber que la vida que deseamos para nuestros hijos puede lograrse si participamos directamente en la proteccion y recuperacion del medio ambiente. no podemos esperar a que otros lo hagan por nosotros; tenemos que ponernos manos a la obra.
2. sin detenerse siquiera, dukdukdiya bajo la cabeza hacia los demas animales que lo observaban y les dijo: -hago lo que puedo.
3.no siempre es el animal mas grande, mas valiente o mas poderoso el que puede realizar el mayor bien o servir de ejemplo para el resto. por el contrario, son quienes no temen actuar, quienes se percatan de lo mucho que esta en juego, los que pueden conseguir que las cosas cambien.
4. en primer lugar, es primordial darse cuenta de que formamos parte de la naturaleza. en ultima instancia, la naturaleza siempre sera mas fuerte que los seres humanos, a pesar de todas nuestras armas nucleares, nuestros equipos cientificos y nuestro conocimiento. si desaparece el sol o cambia la temperatura terrestre apenas unos grados, todos estaremos en un aprieto.
5. las criaturas diminutas no buscan el reconocimiento ni la fama, pero sus humildes contribuciones, aunque sean en forma de una gota de agua, permiten que realicen hazanas heroicas. las soluciones a muchos de los retos de nuestra vida no llegan de la mano de miles de guerreros que marchan al son de cientos de tambores dirigidos por un gran capitan. las respuestas eficaces suelen ser modestas pero adecuadas a cada momento: son los actos que todos nosotros, como personas, somos capaces de realizar. cuando desestimamos la idea de que la grandeza es mprescindible para el exito, nos expandimos hasta de con nuestra capacidad.
Short and simple story that carries a message that is both universally known and ignored, which is that small individual deeds matter. And collective individual actions of small members of the community can outweigh the doings of the few greater members. The book added nothing new to me and probably everyone else. But that doesn't mean that its message was not important! I guess people will always have to state the obvious until other people finally consider it and that is the humble effort of this book. The illustrations were good. And I'm rating 3 stars even though I've gained nothing out of it, just because I appreciate the effort. And looking forward to read more detailed books of this sort.
This is very short parable followed by some thoughts on the three collaborators who brought it together. I liked that it doesn’t center one particular lens. There are stories about what the hummingbird means to many peoples, across the globe. It’s probably more profound when originally published - as anyone who is aware of or “believes in” the reality of the climate crisis probably has internalized this message already, and those that haven’t never will.
But it’s still a worthy read. Quick. Gets it’s message across. Stunningly gorgeous artwork. Executes what it is trying to do perfectly well.
Short but powerful story about doing whatever you can, no matter how small. The hummingbird story itself was an inspirational poem with great accompanying artwork. I enjoyed the inclusion of Haida, Quechua, and Tibetan culture (those three cultures are among the ones I admire most, so it was fate that I picked this up in a tiny shop one day). I longed to experience more, but alas, it was only a 30-min read.
Brief but beautifully written introduction to the environmental stewardship, eloquently explored in the parable of the hummingbird, encouraging us to "be like the hummingbird bird, doing the best we can".
In her essay, Nobel prize winner and environmental advocate, Wangari Maathai, shares the Buddhist word "mottainai", the practice of not wasting resources, instead using the earths precious resources with respect and gratitude.
The smallest of the birds, the hummingbird, shows the rest of the jungle how to turn a tragic forest fire into an act of salvation. When a huge fire starts to devastate the animal’s habitat all but the hummingbird flee to a safer spot to watch their home be destroyed. With great speed and determination the hummingbird takes one drop of water after another to attempt to douse the flames. As the parable ends the Big Bear asks the hummingbird, “What are you doing?” Where the hummingbird responds, “I am doing what I can.”
This book shows in strong graphics by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, wisdom from the Dalai Lama, and experience from 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Wangari Maathai what can happen when the smallest or weakest are motivated into action.
The parable, The Flight of the Hummingbird, is perfect for children because it shows how the smallest with determination can outperform the strongest with none. The book also tells the story of Wangarie Maathai, a modern day Johnny Appleseed, who started the Green Belt Movement in Kenya that has planted over 30-million trees.
This is a beautiful little book, which I particularly love because of the original Haida Manga artwork by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas. Besides the tale, the book has wonderful afterwards by the Dalai Lama and Greenbelt Movement founder Wangari Maathai, both Nobel Peace Prize winners.
The overall message is, of course, especially pertinent as Hummingbird Greta Thunberg has flittered into the scene. In fact, the Dalai Lama predicts in this book, "One of our foundational narratives describes a dark time when all the light in the universe is stored away inside the smallest container and is released only when the greatest hero becomes a small child."
Yet the message of this book isn't that a loan child superstar individual can become a hero. The message, according to the Dalai Lama, is that every one of us "shares a sense of universal responsibility for both humankind and nature." You can be like the hummingbird Dukdukdiya who explains why she works on the seemingly impossible task of putting out a forest fire one drop of water at a time, "I am doing what I can."
"The survival of life on earth as we know it is threatened by human activities that lack a commitment to nonviolence and humanitarian values," writes the Dalai Lama, "Humanity–and every individual within that–must take the initiative to repair and protect our world."
Wangari Maathai brings to our attention the wonderful concept behind the Buddhist word mottainai, "it embraces the practice of not wasting resources and of using them with respect and gratitude." She says it captures in one term the environmentalists' 'three Rs:' reduce reuse recycle, to which she wants to add to mottainai, "repair." She is now working to build a global campaign around the word.
So what about you? Our polar ice sheets are at the point of no return. Our you going to leave all the hard lifting to our beautiful butterfly, Greta Thunberg, and her friends? What are you doing with the rest of your day, today?
I discovered this wee book tucked among the big art books at my library. It’s a lovely little thing – about the size of a paperback, but in hardcover, with a lovely red and black cover featuring Yahgulanaas’ artwork. The central story is about a hummingbird’s brave and lonely fight against a forest fire, one beakful of water at a time. It’s just 20 pages long, including full-bleed illustrations, a picture book kind of story that resonates for all ages. The story is bookended by short essays, just a few pages long, by Yahgulanaas himself, the Dalai Lama, and Nigerian environmental activist Wangari Maathai, all encouraging us to take every action we can to protect our planet and divert it from the path it’s on. There is much work to do at every level, but it is easy to feel overwhelmed and this little tome reminds us to do whatever we can. Love it. Written more than 15 years ago, it’s more relevant than ever. It’s also a great introduction, if you aren’t aware of his work, to Yahgulanaas, author of the Haida manga Red, Carpe Fin and others. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.
I annotated the shit out of this book but ultimately I thought having an entire 1/5 of the book on prizes the authors and illustrators won was so contrary to the point. I understand the base of it, wanting to award someone for their right doings for the greater good, maybe that even gets others more motivated to help in the climate effort. But I felt it had absolutely no place in this book and was pointless. I did really enjoy each of their sections, especially the translated indigenous story. I don’t think it brought a whole lot of new takes to the table but I do think it is a good book to pick up especially if you’re just starting to read or consume media about conservation and climate change action. Overall, had some beautiful, authentic moments. And some very unnecessarily ones. 3.25/5
“Those who are not afraid to act, and who are aware of what is at stake, can make the biggest difference.”
The actual story is very short, of the hummingbird, and beautifully illustrated. It is sweet and I deeply believe it should be made into a children’s book if it’s not already.
It’s a story about a hummingbird doing what it can in a time of crisis as other animals watch in fear, preventing themselves from doing what they can. Although the hummingbirds contribution was small, it still increased the likelihood of success and that if all the animals did what they could, the chance of success would likely increase.
A beautiful story of the hummingbird as a metaphor for little efforts that we need to do for the environment. I found this book in the Canadian Museum of History as it was on display. The "Haida Manga" by the first people artist "Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas" was reallyt good. Did not know this earlier.
This book was elegantly designed, beautifully crafted, passionately written and illustrated. In truth, it is a work of genius. Not really a kids book unless it’s read with a parent or teacher. The issues discussed are deep and complex and they require a gentle hand in guiding younger readers through them.
Lovely illustrations. My copy was a gift, and I appreciated the gesture. I'm not sure who this book is for though; neither a child nor an adult. Seemingly antithetical in its existence to the environmental principles it espouses, no? Made to last, but not sure the world needed this oral parable in such a resource intensive form. Curious.
Simple, poetically told tale, with a couple of accompanying essay commentaries. The illustrations are fantastic. The moral is not new (do what you can), but it is well-told here, and the references to Haida, Tibetan, and Quechan cultures are lovely.
3.5 beautiful illustrations and i love the sentiment behind it but it doesnt really resonate if you only put strain on the individual's good heart, we can clearly see for ourselves how it doesnt work like that
This is the story of a small bird doing what it can to make a difference. The book also contains some context around the parable and a call to action in order to save the environment. Its message is more important than ever. I will definitely be sharing this beautiful parable with my students.
Okay, so this was faster than fast. Beautiful art, though and a nice re-telling of a story. Couldn't escape the feeling that I have read this story before.