Yves Troendle

I wanted to read this because I thought it might give me some insight into aboriginal culture in the Pacific northwest. The book is really two separate books. One part tells the story of Satsum and Gyila, a brother and sister who are the only survivors of their village when it is destroyed by fire. Satsum was out fishing with some men who killed a frog thereby angering the gods who destroyed the village. Gyila was in the village but was saved because her grandmother hid her in a cave. The two wander different ways and in the time it takes for them to reunite they each have adventures that make them mighty hunters and fishers. After they reunite they meet a shaman who helps them return to their village and then helps them bring all the people who were killed back to life. After the shaman has done all this he disappears but he returns once to tell them the Raven stories, which is the second part of the book.

I liked the message that is the base of this book which is that when people lose their respect for nature they will bring hard times on themselves and it is only by re-establishing the balance of nature that people can live happily. I think many people have forgotten this lesson. When we were in coastal BC last year we heard again and again how difficult it was to catch salmon now. The aboriginals live in modern houses in areas of towns separate from the "white folks" but they seem to have a lack of purpose. Reconnecting with their legends and remembering the lessons might help. Or it might not but, for this white folk, this book was an window into their culture.… (altro)