Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." —Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca. Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas. A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.

Tir d'un classique de la litt rature ha da, ce roman graphique spectaculaire tout couleur nous raconte l'histoire tragique d'un chef autochtone si aveugl par la revanche qu'il conduit sa communaut vers la guerre et la destruction. Red est le fier chef d'un petit village dans une des les de la c te nord-ouest de la Colombie-Britannique. Sa soeur qui a t enlev e jadis par des pilleurs est localis e r cemment dans un village environnant. Red s'engage la sauver et prendre sa revanche sur ses ravisseurs. Le livre comprend 108 pages illustr es et peintes la main. Il est un m tissage adroit entre l'imaginaire ha da et le manga japonais. Cet impressionnant roman d'action graphique sonne l'alarme sur les effets d vastateurs de la rage et de la vengeance.

"This Haida manga intriguingly blends graphic storytelling with a fine art sensibility... Yahgulanaas communicates via an arresting series of images evoking the traditional visual arts of the Haida people." --Publisher's WeeklyThe brilliant follow-up to War of Blink amd RED: A Haida Manga -- another stunningly inventive retelling of an ancient Haida tale.

"This Haida manga intriguingly blends graphic storytelling with a fine art sensibility... Yahgulanaas communicates via an arresting series of images evoking the traditional visual arts of the Haida people." --Publisher's Weekly The brilliant follow-up to RED: A Haida Manga -- another stunningly inventive retelling of an ancient Haida tale. The latest offering from acclaimed graphic artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, War of the Blink is a stunning full-colour graphic novel about war and peace. It is the story of a fisherman who suspects a party of raiders is descending upon his island home. When his warnings are not heeded, the man sets out to guard the village on his own, only to find himself caught up in a high-stakes game of kidnap and bluff. All this leads to a final showdown, in which one of the sides must blink first--and the villagers find a surprising way to save face and their home, and avoid bloodshed. Combining traditional Northwest coast and Japanese comic art in Yahgulanaas' own, dizzingly original mish-mash, War of the Blink is a timeless fable about the bravery it takes to choose peace over war. An earlier version of the artwork was displayed at the Vancouver Art Gallery a part of the groundbreaking exhibition "Raven Travelling." Review Quotes and Endorsements "Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas has invented a new form of graphic storytelling seen in full colour in his beautiful new book ... The intricate watercolour changes the whole experience of the book, from linear and fixed to all over and fluid. -- Calgary Herald "Yahgulanaas blends ... two distinct styles together into something wholly original." -- National Post "Fusing the bold primary colours and geometric forms characteristic of classical Haida visual art with the emotionally expressive cartooning style of Japanese manga ... the traditional Haida story, freighted with all the sombre inevitability of Sophocles, is told in 108 pages of spectacularly beautiful, hand-painted images." --Vancouver Review "Red delights me beyond measure. Author and artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas has created a new art form -- Haida manga -- that honours his heritage as well as the Japanese friends of his ancestors." -- FastForward Weekly

Referencing a classic Haida oral narrative, this stunning full-color graphic novel documents the tragic story of a leader so blinded by revenge that he takes his community to the brink of war and destruction. Consisting of 108 pages of hand-painted illustrations, Red is a groundbreaking mix of imagery from the indigenous Haida culture and Japanese manga. Red is the prideful leader of a small village in the islands off the northwest coast of British Columbia. His sister was abducted years ago by a band of raiders, and when news comes that she has been spotted in a nearby village, Red sets out to rescue his sister and exact revenge on her captors. Tragic and timeless, it is reminiscent of such classic stories as Oedipus Rex and Macbeth. An action-packed and dazzling graphic novel, Red is also a cautionary tale about the devastating effects of rage and retribution.

This inspiring children's book is based on a South American indigenous story about a courageous hummingbird who defies fear and expectations in her attempt to save the forest from fire. The illustrated story is supplemented by a natural and cultural history of hummingbirds, as well as an inspiring message from Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. The evocative artwork by internationally renowned Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas complements this optimistic tale that encourages everyone to take responsibility for their home and the planet.

Hummingbirds have long been a symbol of wisdom and courage. In this charming story, a hummingbird makes a valiant effort to put out a raging fire that threatens her forest home ? trip after trip, her beak is filled each time with just a drop of water. Her efforts show her woodland companions that doing something ? anything ? is better than doing nothing at all. The hummingbird parable, which originates with the Quechuan people of South America, has become a talisman for environmentalists and activists worldwide committed to making meaningful change. This retelling, enlivened by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ fabulous Haida-manga illustrations, is suitable for all ages of would-be activists. Although environmental responsibility often seems like an overwhelming task, The Flight of the Hummingbird shows how easy it is to start and how great the effect could be if everyone just did what they could.