Ḵung Jaadee (Roberta Kennedy) is a professional Indigenous storyteller, educator (BA and BEd) and published author who has been telling stories for 30-plus years. She belongs to the X̱aayda (Haida), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Tlingit, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and is also part Hawaiian. She was born and raised on Haida Gwaii and is from the Yaguu’laanaas Raven Clan. Her Haida name, Ḵung Jaadee, was presented to her at her great uncle’s memorial feast by her cousin, Crystal Robinson, and means “Moon Woman.” Her Aunt Leialoha gave her the name, Hi’ilawe, in reference to the most famous Hawaiian waterfall on the Big Island. She now resides with her family in East Vancouver on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Carla Joseph is a Métis/Cree artist born in Prince George, BC. Carla received her key to become an artist in residence at the Prince George Community Arts Council in 2016. She went on to win Art Battle in 2016 and 2018. Carla has her own very unique style which many people connect with. She loves the way she makes people feel with her art and it inspires her to continue with her gift. Carla loves to challenge herself by taking on many different projects that can be seen around her home community. Carla has illustrated at least five wonderful children's books including Be a Good Ancestor. She now resides in the lower mainland.
“An Indigenous child spends time in a pine-filled, water-adjacent landscape recounting various means of connection--with themself, their ancestors, and the earth. To honor self, ‘I hug myself tight’; to honor ancestors, ‘I often make a spirit plate,’ setting aside a portion of each dish; and to honor the Earth, ‘I inhale deeply and smell the cedar, honeysuckle, spruce, and hemlock.’ Each segment ends with a question that invites reader interactivity--a spread about the child's connection to trees and fondness for climbing them finishes, ‘What do you do to feel strong’? While a sudden reference to the child as a grandmother may feel abrupt to some, space- and time-spanning text from Jaadee, who belongs to various First Nations tribes and is part Hawaiian, and sketchbook-like landscapes from Métis/Cree artist Joseph, effectively trace how ‘the ancestors, Mother Earth, the trees, the animals, all people, you and me.... We are all connected.’"" —Publisher’s Weekly