“Papa, what is a Potlatch?”
Inspired by Ts’msyen Chief William Beynon’s historic notebooks on Potlatches in the Gitxsan village of Gitsegukla, Celebrating Potlatches pairs intergenerational storytelling with beautiful illustrations to honour Indigenous traditions. From the award-winning author of Oolichan Moon and the accomplished illustrator of Be a Good Ancestor, this book recounts the 1885 Potlatch ban and the resilience of the communities who fought to keep their traditions alive.
Awards
CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens, Fall 2025
Finalist: 2026 Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize
Reviews
“Heartfelt and timely, Celebrating Potlatches gifts readers with cultural teachings through an intergenerational account of Indigenous resilience. This book is a beautiful tribute to the author’s great-grandfather, William Beynon, whose life’s work documenting oral histories of Sm’algya̱x-speaking Peoples and their Potlatches continues to be foundational to our cultural resurgence today.” – Sm Łoodm ‘Nüüsm (Dr. Mique’l Dangeli), Sm’algya̱x language expert and Assistant Professor of Indigenous Arts at the University of Victoria
“This beautiful book shares the importance of community, culture, and identity. As you make your way through the pictures and words, they bring you to an understanding of how important the Potlatch ceremony was and continues to be for Indigenous Peoples.” – Carolyn Roberts, educator, speaker, and author of Re-Storying Education
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Through this conversational historic account, readers can learn alongside the narrator as his Papa shares his wisdom about the rich history of the Potlatch.
Curriculum Connections
Early literacy – listening, reading, and discussing
Art – traditional Indigenous art, drumming, and regalia
Social studies – the 1885 Potlatch ban, history of Indigenous Peoples, connection to community
Social responsibility – uplifting ourselves and others, honouring traditions
Indigenous knowledge and traditions – traditional teachings, Potlatch ceremonies, intergenerational storytelling
Two free, downloadable lesson plans—one for kindergarten to Grade 1 and one for Grades 2 to 3—provide connections to Social Studies curriculum.
Additional Information
32 Pages | 10" x 8.5" | Hardcover
