Product Description
In an Alaskan Indian tale, a raven turns himself into a beloved child in order to trick a Tlingit chief into releasing the stars, the moon, and the sun back into the sky. ... Read more

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A young man proves himself to be resourceful and brave, despite the mockery of his nagging mother-in-law, when he wears the skin of the ferocious sea monster he has slain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic folktale
This is one of my kids' all time favorite books. In fact, whenever I read it to my 4 year old, my 9 and 11 year old inevitably make their way into the room to listen to me read it, because they loved it so much when they were younger. It does start off with the young man killing the Sea Monster with an ingenuous trap, so children who are very sensitive to this might be bothered (but the death is certainly far less prominent than your average Disney movie).
The artwork is a thrill to look at as much as the story is compelling, making it one of my favorites as well. ... Read more

Product Description
In The Fishermen's Frontier, David Arnold examines the economic, social, cultural, and political context in which salmon have been harvested in southeast Alaska over the past 250 years. The book is about Native and Euro-American fishermen, local fishing communities, industrialists, and resource managers and the ways in which these various groups have imagined, shaped, exploited, and managed the salmon fishery and its resources, arranging it to conform to understandable patterns of social organization and endowing it with cultural meaning.

The transformation of the salmon fishery in southeastern Alaska from an aboriginal resource to an industrial commodity was fraught with historical ironies. Tribal peoples-usually considered egalitarian and communal in nature-managed their fisheries with a strict notion of property rights, while Euro-Americans-so vested in the notion of property and ownership-established a "common-property" fishery when they arrived in the late nineteenth century. In the twentieth century, federal conservation officials tried to rationalize the fishery by "improving" upon nature and promoting economic efficiency, but their uncritical embrace of scientific planning and their disregard for local knowledge degraded salmon habitat and encouraged a backlash from small-boat fishermen, who clung to their "irrational" ways. Meanwhile, Indian and white commercial fishermen engaged in identical labors, but established vastly different work cultures and identities based on competing notions of "work" and "nature."

Arnold concludes with a sobering analysis of the threats to present-day fishing cultures by forces beyond their control. However, the salmon fishery in southeastern Alaska is still very much alive, entangling salmon, fishermen, industrialists, scientists, and consumers in a living web of biological and human activity that has continued for thousands of years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

tangled fishery
David Arnold's story of the salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska is not only an important chapter in American history, but an exemplary one. A fluent and engaging narrative,supported yet unencumbered by its impressive scholarly research, it examines the several tangled strands of biological, cultural, economic, and technological realities that demand our attention if we hope to prevent this magnificent resource from going the way of the North American bison. "The Fishermen's Frontier" is impressively attuned to the essential ecological issues that include, first, the human's place in nature as a predator, as well as the cultural and economic conflicts within the human community.While presenting an engaging and informative narrative of the fishery, from the stone age to the 21st century, Arnold presses his readers to contemplate "what kind of society we want to have, the kind of communities we want to live in, the kind of work we want to do, and the kind of relationships we want with nature."

great scholarship, great storytelling
This book is a high-water mark in the study of the southeast Alaskan salmon fishery. David Arnold intelligently mixes rigorous research with colorful descriptions of Alaska's salmon fishery through ancient to modern times. Arnold explains, with dispassionate fairness, the many opposing factions in the region. By not overreaching his objectivity, Arnold not only educates the reader, but he puts these conflicting viewpoints into conversation.

Having grown up in a southeast Alaskan fishing family, I'm confident I can say Arnold captures many of the passions and concerns borne by those independent fishermen who make their living off the fishery. At the same time, the history of Alaska Natives, environmentalists, federal regulators, fish processors, international sea harvesters, and many others make this book a well-rounded study.

My opinion of "The Fishermen's Frontier"
This is a beautiful book, with maps, graphs and pictures.It is a well-written history of the salmon industry in Alaska.The author has an impressive bibliography and historical footnotes that lend credibility to the environmental questions posed in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
On August 10, 2006, Marquand Books launched the publication of Transfigurations: North Pacific Coast Art, a limited edition book of important Native American masterpieces.Known internationally for collecting and placing North Pacific Coast artwork and artifacts of the highest caliber, George Terasaki stands among the preeminent individuals in the field. Of the many thousands of artworks that have passed through his hands over the years, he has retained only a few of the most remarkable objects for his private collection. Few of these have ever been published before now.Less well known than the objects themselves are Terasaki's photographs of them-images that reveal his deep appreciation and emotional connection with each piece. At 12 × 13½ inches, this luxurious 248-page hardcover book illuminates these spectacular artworks in a deluxe presentation worthy of their quality.Noted scholar Steven Clay Brown provides insight and new scholarship on each of these prime examples of Native American art. A foreword by Edmund Carpenter introduces the collection.Privately published by Marquand Books, this sumptuous volume is printed in full color on 200 gsm GardaPat 13 stock and is bound in Brillianta cloth.Transfigurations is limited to 450 copies of the standard edition, and 50 copies of a special slipcase edition, which includes a signed Terasaki photograph in a separate print folder, also bound in Brillianta cloth. Each book is shipped in a tailored mailing carton. ... Read more

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In 2003 my husband, my sister and I took the Royal Caribbean cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska. Every night, I wrote notes about what we had done each day of the trip so that we could have the wonderful memories for years to come. My journal is a vivid description of the beauty and adventure that awaits anyone who travels to ‘The Last Frontier’. In it, I describe the shore excursions that we elected to participate in, but there are many more options at each port-of-call, for every taste and energy level. If you’re thinking about making the trip, please read the journal and get a good idea of whether or not this trip is for you. Read my journal for only a dollar and then see over 100 photos on my companion website. Enjoy! ... Read more

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For nearly two decades, Preston Singletary has straddled two unique cultures, melding his Tlingit ancestry with the dynamism of the Studio Glass Movement. In the process, he has created an extraordinarily distinctive and powerful body of work that depicts cultural and historical images in richly detailed, beautifully hued glass. Singletary has translated the visual vocabulary of patterns, narratives, and systems of Native woodcarving and painted art into glass, a material historically associated with Native peoples through an extensive network of trading routes.

Singletary entered the world of glassblowing as an assistant, mastering the techniques of the European tradition as he worked alongside Seattle-area artists such as Benjamin Moore and Dante Marioni. He also had opportunities to learn the secrets of the Venetian glass masters while working with Italian legends Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto. The Northwest Native icons, supernatural beings, transformative themes, animal spirits, shamanism, and basketry design of Singletary's Tlingit heritage are manifested in his work, creating a unique whole that resonates on many levels and reveals a new artistic direction.

This mid-career retrospective of his work includes contributions by Melissa G. Post, Steven Clay Brown, and Walter Porter, as well as a DVD of Singletary working in his studio.

Preston Singletary's works are in museum collections around the world, including the National Museum of the American Indian; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Seattle Art Museum; Corning Museum of Glass; Mint Museum of Art; the Heard Museum; and the Handelsbanken (Stockholm, Sweden). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

cedar finds a different canoe
This book is a catalog for an exhibit at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA.If you can get there before the show closes, go. Seriously.

In any case, the book is a fine representation of and commentary on the work and the artist.Preston Singletary's work in glass stands equally firm on the foundations of his understanding of aesthetic traditions from north America's north Pacific coast and his own beautiful imagination and skills as a contemporary artist.Dreaming and designing from traditional subtractive and geometric media (carving cedar and basketry/textiles) into luminous glass is a tall order, but Singletary accomplishes the task repeatedly and with grace. Traditional works from this region are often only fully revealed in context of the oyster light of a northwest day or by firelight in a cedar home, but these glass works bring their own light, and the feeling is true to spirit.The few collaborations are standouts, showing that Mr. Singletary has the beyond-controlling-ego confidence of a great artist.

Hope the artist someday publishes his beautiful ambient audio "soundtrack" to the exhibit. ... Read more

Product Description
After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle Justice,and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.Amazon.com Review
Cole Matthews is angry. Angry, defiant, smug--in short, a bully. His anger has taken him too far this time, though. After beating up a ninth-grade classmate to the point of brain damage, Cole is facing a prison sentence. But then a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey enters his life, offering an alternative called Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in which victim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution. Privately, Cole sneers at the concept, but he's no fool--if it gets him out of prison, he'll do anything. Ultimately, Cole ends up banished for one year to a remote Alaskan island, where his arrogance sets him directly in the path of a mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility.

Ben Mikaelsen's depiction of a juvenile delinquent's metamorphosis into a caring, thinking individual is exciting and fascinating, if at times heavy-handed. Cole's nastiness and the vivid depictions of the lengths he must go to survive after the (equally vivid) attack by the bear are excruciating at times, but the concept of finding a way to heal a whole community when one individual wrongs another is compelling. The jacket cover photo of the author in a bear hug with the 700-pound black bear that he and his wife adopted and raised is definitely worth seeing! (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (307)

Driven by Great Character Development!
Mr. A's 8th grade class read this book and, as a whole, liked the action and pacing of the book. These elements were driven by the fantastic character development of the main character and the detailed imagery. We would definitely be interested in reading about the further exploits of the main characters, should the author decide to continue this story.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson
I enjoyed this book, even though parts of it were very disgusting--I hate mice and I had a hard time reading about him surviving by eating a live mouse, but that didn't stop me from wanting to know what happened next.

Touching Spirit Bear. A teenage story
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a great novel that can be related to any teenager. Mikaelsen creates this rebellious child who refuses to change his ways. In response to his actions he was banished to an island off the coast of Alaska to fix his attitude. Before reading this I actually had heard about a teenager who went through this similar kind of treatment. Hearing about his attitude change made me want to know more about this type of attitude adjustment. Throughout the novel, Cole Matthew's view on life is drastically changed from always needing to prove to others he was correct, to being able to trust and be trusted. The events which Cole must go through in order to repair his attitude are unbelievable. I caught myself during the novel asking, why are you doing this? Just listen and give it a try. The fact that Cole is so close to my age makes it easier to understand the kind of situation he is going through. Mikaelsen makes a real story out of real attitudes and feelings that some teens must face. It is unfortunate, however, that teens must go through this kind of life style. To me I feel the parents should be more to blame than the kids. But on the other side, Cole had no right to be assaulting other kids and being the aggressive kid he was. . Mikaelsen's use of setting makes this story such an enjoyable one to read. Mikaelsen uses Cole's setting against him to further show the pain and struggles he must go through to find himself. Being isolated is only half the battle. With bears, weather and pride against himself, Cole's isolation is far more difficult than he had ever imagined.I highly recommend this book to anyone. This novel shows how lives can be changed for the better with the use of friendship and trust.

Good survival story for young male readers, decent picture of restorative justice principles
I participate in a restorative justice program similar to the one Mikaelsen describes, and I read this book on the recommendation from a fellow volunteer.It is, first and foremost, a novel for young adult readers, so it never claims to be outstanding literature, but it succeeds as an exploration of personal growth and development that can (hopefully) occur for participants in restorative/circle justice groups.Essentially, the story follows an angry young man as he commits a violent crime and then engages in a dialogue designed to restore the community and reveal his connections to those around him.The morality is a bit heavy-handed (one character, Edwin, never speaks except to dispense his traditional Native American views and occasionally offer hints as to a troubled past), but it is presented with honesty and respect, and I recommend the book to volunteers and potential volunteers.I was personally a bit uncomfortable with the Circle of Life spirituality presented, as it is not entirely consistent with Biblical Christianity (even if all creation is connected in a circle that demands respect, God is sovereign over that circle and not somehow just a part of it), but the basic messages about love and forgiveness and respect and healing are quite beautiful and can easily be related to a more Biblical analysis of the protagonist's situation and his needs.

Also, as a simple survival adventure story, this book draws favorable comparisons to the classic Hatchet, so I recommend this book even for adolescents who will skip the emotional struggles and focus on the storms and the mauling and the shelter-building and bug-eating.

Touching Spirit Bear Book Review
I read Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen and I loved it.
The book is about a teenager named Cole Mathews who has anger issues that lead him to commit many crimes wihtin the city of Minneapolis.He decided to brag about his latest crime and then a classmate turned him in.Cole denied everything and then beat up the kid who turned him in, a boy named Peter Driscal.Cole applied for Circle Justice afterward, a system of justice that promotes forgivness instead of punishment.Cole failed and was banished to a remote Alaskan island where the real story begins.At the begining of Cole's banishment, he burned down the hut Garvey and Edwin made and failed at escaping.He then provoked and was mauled by a Spirit Bear he saw repeatedly before that.After returning to the island from a hospital, he was able to heal inside and decided to try to help Peter heal.Peter came and was showing no kindness to Cole for most of the time.But finaly at the end, when they both saw the spirit bear, they became friends.
This book sadly has little to no examples of simile or metaphor in it.
The book has lots of imagery though, and I can give a few examples.One says:"Cole's stomach churned and cramped harder".Another says:"Cole squirted on a glop of ketchup and then devoured his hot dog.
The characterization in this book is rich.For example, Cole goes from a violent, rough, delinquent to a gentle, thoughtful boy.
The plot can get a little twisted with all the flashbacks and areas of description that goes so deep that you forget whats happening.
The book's flashbacks are exeptable since they provide good back story, insight, and answers to questions.
The book uses personification on the animals, and sometimes the environment and it makes things interesting.Like when Cole has to explain his animal dances and it is used astoundingly.
The dialogue is filled with powerful sayings and language.
I loved this book in the end. ... Read more