Abalone Woman

Teoni Spathelfer, illustrated by Natassia Davies

Image | Abalone Woman

(Heritage House)

A frightening dream inspires Little Wolf to preserve her Indigenous culture and to teach her daughters their classmates to be proud of their heritage.

Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture. Little Wolf's own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community. Told with powerful imagery and symbolism, Abalone Woman is the third book in the Little Wolf series, which presents themes of racism, trauma, and family unity through relatable, age-appropriate narratives. (From Heritage House)
Abalone Woman is for ages 4 to 8.
Teoni Spathelfer is a radio journalist and author who is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation from coastal British Columbia.
Natassia Davies is a Victoria-based artist and graphic designer and is of Coast Salish ancestry.