Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. There is so much incredible information presented and shared. It provides a lot of content without being completely overwhelming. The pictures add so much value as well. I can't wait to add a hard copy to my home and classroom libraries.
A beautiful and inspiring book about indigenous knowledge and customs. Important history and culture to know so I think this is a great addition to any library.
This nonfiction book is a gift to us from the Indigenous people. It shows us how over the course of history how their knowledge systems came to be. This knowledge came from practical application and their lived experiences. Indigenous knowledge is transmitted by word of mouth. They have a vast understanding of the natural world. Native lore explained how they look at the land, sky, animals and plants to survive and understand their existence. They keep their knowledge alive by using to inform modern science information in many field such as water conversation, astronomy, and medicine. The text of this book is interspersed with traditional stories. This book has gorgeous photograph and illustrations driving home the importance of caring for the natural environment and the best suggestions to help it.
The book includes a glossary, bibliography, reading sources and index. It is a great book for libraries. The book is fascinating to read. I knew the Indigenous people were “in touch” with the natural earth but I discovered to my delight how much more they knew. It is also a good book to have in your home library.
📖 Sky Wolf’s Call 🐺 by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger is the first book on Traditional Ecological Knowledge for young readers. A fantastic resource to learn more animals, plants, water, astronomy etc.
This book is ideal for curious young readers who love to explore and features an important Indigenous perspective.
Sky Wolf's Call is a well written, accessible, and respectful examination of the knowledge systems of the indigenous peoples of North America and how they have traditionally passed on knowledge to younger generations. Due out 5th April 2022 from Annick Press, it's 120 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.
The authors, Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger, have written clearly and understandably. Although the book is aimed at young/middle school aged readers, I found it both interesting and educational. Potentially unfamiliar terms and names (indigenous, tribes, nations, Indian, Aboriginal, and many more) are defined clearly in context, and the book also contains an abbreviated glossary and index.
The material is arranged logically and thematically: the systems of passing knowledge (Sky Wolf's call), water knowledge, fire and smoke knowledge and uses, food and food security, healing, celestial physics/navigation/time, keeping and passing on traditional knowledge, and culture and the future. I am so impressed with how meticulously this book is researched and how respectfully written - the bibliography and resource links will provide readers with many hours of further exploration and learning.
The book is very well photographed throughout with lots of facsimile documents, paintings, charts, and objects in addition to the beautiful colour photography of animals, people, gatherings, and landscapes. It would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, classroom use, or for the home library.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Sky Wolf's Call: The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger is currently scheduled for release on April 5 2021. How do knowledge systems get passed down over generations? Through the knowledge inherited from their Elders and ancestors, Indigenous Peoples throughout North America have observed, practiced, experimented, and interacted with plants, animals, the sky, and the waters over millennia. Knowledge keepers have shared their wisdom with younger people through oral history, stories, ceremonies, and records that took many forms. In Sky Wolf’s Call, award-winning author team of Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger reveal how Indigenous knowledge comes from centuries of practices, experiences, and ideas gathered by people who have a long history with the natural world. Indigenous knowledge is explored through the use of fire and water, the acquisition of food, the study of astronomy, and healing practices.
Sky Wolf’s Call is a wonderful and enlightening look at the perspective and knowledge held by the Indigenous Peoples of North America. I enjoyed getting a better understanding of the variety of stories and beliefs, and the vast array of knowledge they hold. I found the writing to be accessible and compelling. The images and page formatting were well done, keeping the eye and attention of the reader focused on the pages. I think this book is a great addition to classroom, school, and personal libraries. It is a valuable resource on several levels and importantly reminds us all how easily stories, culture, knowledge, and history can be lost. I think I will take a second look at some sections, because there is simply so much that I did not know and I feel like I might have missed or forgotten details because of interruptions while I was reading or the sheer volume of information I want to remember. I really love that the authors included a glossary, index, and (my favorite) websites and books for further reading. This makes me happy every time.
My heart pounded when I started this book. It truly was so much more than I ever thought it would be. It is packed! Packed with information not just about indigenous knowledge but it spoke to me that this book should be in every library around the world. Truly. I am part Comanche, there is so much I did not know so much we all don't know. More books like this need to be published because this format, first of all, draws us in. The photos are stunning. but it's the unexpected that will have me processing this book for quite a while. I feel like my review can't do this book justice.
I am going to post this and come back and edit after applying some practices in the book. I want to add at this point the contents which are The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge, Water Knowledge Ways, Fire and Smoke Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge and Food Security, Healing Knowledge Ways,
Sky Knowledge and The Wolfs Call.
There is a page titled Everything is Connected and that page alone has me deep in thought.
I can't recommend this book enough. It does need to be spread far and wide and get into a lot of hands especially our young people.
The design of the book is gorgeous. It says all pictures aren't final, but they are stunning. The play between the background colors and the font colors, along with pictures of the landscapes and people made for a quick and enjoyable read. There is so much in this book that is perfect for all ages to read on their own or to be read to. The glossary, resources, and index at the back are well done. A must purchase for libraries.
This non-fiction account of the contributions of Indigenous and First Nations people from both past and present was fascinating and beautifully photographed. The author wove stories of Indigenous contributions to the global community through caring for the land, sea, and sky. The history of residential schools and language preservation was included, as well as responsible use of resources. This is such an important book for all ages and I know history, science, and social studies teachers will want to have this in their collection.
The details and information were well-written and informative. I highly recommend this for all ages.
I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Interesting book about Indigenous People and how they do things every day. Great photography helps get the point across.
This overview is very thorough and detailed. It feels like a gift to learn more about their belief systems. I think this could supplement school curriculum on Indigenous groups very well.
The Sky Wolf's Call is perfect for upper elementary and middle-school text that connects the First Nations' history, culture, and way of life with the science of environmental conservation. Each chapter focuses on a topic and explains ways to live in harmony with the environment. The wisdom of the First Nations is very much needed as our Earth is experiencing a rapid and irreversible ecological decline.
This book is an INCREDIBLE illustration of Indigenous ways of knowing and what this means in the modern world. While written for kids, this book's also appropriate for adults wanting to learn more about these topics. Note that the book isn't a short children's book - it's over 100 pages. It'd be best read in multiple sittings (by kids and adults).
Each of the chapters features different types of Knowledge - about water, fire and smoke, food (plants and animals), healing, and the sky, as well as chapters on the gift of Indigenous Knowledge and practices of Knowledge Keeping. Each chapter features broad narrative context about one of these areas of Knowledge, as well as stories from the author's Piikani heritage, profiles of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, case studies of that type of knowledge in action both from history and modern times, efforts to protect resources, and information about traditional cultural practices from a range of Indigenous nations, tribes, and bands.
A few things I loved about this book:
**It was beautifully illustrated in the images included, in the layout of the pages, and the overall aesthetic. It was a joy to look at.
**It emphasizes the ways that Indigenous peoples blend their Indigenous knowledge with Western science and philosophy to produce current cultural practices, showing for example how we can apply Indigenous ways of knowing to our own practices combatting the impacts of climate change (e.g. protecting water, preventing fires, etc.)
**It really beautifully shows Indigenous peoples in the modern world, persisting as keepers of this knowledge (e.g. Sean Sherman (Oglala Lakoka), the "Sioux Chef," as well as scientists, storytellers, activists, and more).
**While it prominently features the author's own Piikani heritage, it features examples from throughout North America, making this a truly broad study of Indigenous knowledge and peoples.