Books offer variety for Christmas giving

REVIEW

Page 14

It is a sign of vitality that every year the number of books on and by First Nations peoples increases.

The Vancouver publishing house of Douglas & McIntyre has vigorously led this renaissance in First Nations books. The West Coast publisher has recognized the fascinating stories waiting to be told by the Aboriginal community.

For instance, in Khot-La Cha: the Autobiography Of Chief Simon Baker, (Douglas & McIntyre, 201 pp; $22.95) the publisher has unearthed the inspirational story of the Native Elder.

Chief Baker's Squamish name, Khot-La Cha, translates as Man with a Kind Heart. It is an appropriate name for the man who has produced such a gentle and moving auto-biography.

Khot-La Cha details Chief Baker's life, from early years in B.C.'s residential school system through to his work as a longshoreman. It follows him to his subsequent elevation to Chief and Elder.

Every bit as inspirational, and also exceptionally beautiful to behold, is Eagle Transforming. the Art of Robert Davidson, (Douglas & McIntyre/University of Washington Press, 164 pp; $45.)

In words, renowned Haida sculptor Robert Davidson tells us of his discovery of art, and of how he creates his own works. Davidson is one of a handful of artists who have returned Haida culture form the brink of extinction. When he began, no Haida art was being made;. Now, a new generation of artists is exploring the old traditions in contemporary forms.

Davidson's art, and Davidson in the act of making his art, have been captured in a series of stunning black-and-white photographs by Ulli Steltzer, a leading photographer of Aboriginal culture.

Davidson's work may also be seen in Spirit faces: Contemporary Masks of the Northwest (Douglas & McIntyre, 135 pp. $19.95). Author Gary Wyatt collects 75 examples of contemporary masks form 23 Northwest artists.

The examples sown here are all in color and feature some of the best artists working on the Northwest Coast today.

Finally from Gerry Williams comes something a bit different. William is Canada's first Aboriginal to write a science-fiction novel.

The Black Ship (Theytus Boots Ltd.; 231 pp. $10.95) is set in the future. Two warring factions are both threatened by a mysterious black spaceship that is unlike anything ever seen before.

Enid Blue Starbreaks' mission, should she accept it, is to infiltrate the spacecraft. Starbreaks' is an admiral in the Anphorians navy. However, she is of Repletian descent.

The Repletions, who are battling the Anphorians, occupy a status somewhat similar to Canada's First Nations people.