To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the sockeye salmon is more than just a source of food. Over its life cycle, it nourishes the very land and forests that the Skeena River runs through and where the Gitxsan make their home. The Sockeye Mother explores how the animals, water, soil, and seasons are all intertwined.

Prizes

Winner of McNally Robinson Book for Young People Awards, Younger Category 2018,Winner of Science Writers and Communicators of Canada book award 2017,Nominated for Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction 2018

Huson eloquently conveys the fragile interconnectedness of the natural world and the moral imperative to protect it. * Publishers Weekly *
A wonderful exploration of science and culture with many ties to curricula. A top selection for nonfiction collections. -- Meaghan Nichols * Ontario School Library Journal *
An excellent addition to curriculums that tie scientific principles to cultural practices; the work should be embraced by libraries to help educate readers about the Gitxsan. * Kirkus Reviews *
Accessible to fluent readers in the late primary and intermediate grades, this book is a rich source of information and fits well with the Social Studies and Science curriculum. -- Brenda Boreham * Canadian Teacher Magazine *
Highly recommended! -- Debbie Reese * American Indians in Children's Literature *

Hetxw'ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson (he/him/his), is an award-winning storyteller and artist from the Gitxsan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Having grown up in this strong matrilineal society, he is passionate about his people's land and way of life. Brett’s vision to share the knowledge, stories, and worlds of the Gitxsan was the inspiration behind his award-winning Mothers of Xsan series. He is also a Research Associate at the Prairie Climate Centre, where he is developing new methods to bridge the gap between Indigenous knowledges and western sciences. With the support of his wife, Jeri, and their children, Warren and Ruby, Brett endeavours to continue sharing stories through writing, art, and photography. Natasha Donovan (she/her/hers) is a Métis illustrator originally from Vancouver, British Columbia. Her sequential work has been published in This Place: 150 Years Retold and Wonderful Women of History. She is the illustrator of the award-winning Surviving the City graphic novel series and Mothers of Xsan children's book series, as well as Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer and the forthcoming A Good Hide by Karina Iceberg. She lives on an island in British Columbia with her family. @natashamdonovan