Indigenous Children’s Book Inspires Through Language and Hockey
The Game is a new children’s book by gifted storyteller Henry Charles (Ten Bears), an elder of the Musqueam First Nation, that combines Indigenous language and culture with the beloved sport of hockey. The book features breathtaking illustrations by Haida Nation artist Shoshannah Greene, and a portion of the sales will be donated to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
Available for purchase online now or in stores.
Indigenous Children’s Book Inspires Through Language and Hockey
For Henry, inspiration struck on June 1, 2011 when he was watching the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Boston Bruins in game one of their historic Stanley Cup final. Wanting to capture those feelings of celebration and determination, Henry sat down and wrote The Game, the story of Killer Whale and Black Bear’s first hockey game. He was able to reimagine that iconic game in a way that introduced the Musqueam language and culture to a new audience, dedicating the story to the children of Canuck Place.
“The Game is a true reflection of Henry, who was a fierce competitor when he played sports. Off the field, he was gentle and firm with his teachings so that children could have a better and clearer understanding of the world we live in. He believed in peace and harmony for all human beings.”
– Peter Leech, former professional hockey player and member of the T’it’q’et Community Village of the St’át’imc Tribal Nation
The book celebrates resilience, joy and belonging; values held by the team at Canuck Place caring for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
For kids aged 4-8, The Game features:
- An introduction to Musqueam language and culture
- Beautiful watercolor artwork from a celebrated Haida artist
- Detailed backmatter and a pronunciation guide
The language in the book is possible thanks to contributions from Musqueum Nation, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation səl̓ilw̓ət, Jim Kew (Kwes’Kwestin), and linguist Wayne Suttles. There are many sounds in the Musqueam language that can’t be reproduced in the Latin alphabet, which is used in English.
About the Author
Henry Charles (Ten Bears, 1955-2017) was an Elder of the Musqueam First Nation xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and resided on the Musqueam reserve in Vancouver. In addition to his role husband, father, and grandfather, Charles was an accomplished writer, storyteller, Indigenous historian, greeter and Musqueam speaker. He was regularly commissioned to do First Nation storytelling in local schools and served as the Vancouver Public Library’s Storyteller in Residence. In later years, Henry was a mentor for the Vancouver Downtown Eastside Society’s DUDES Club men’s support group.
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