Richard Van Camp is the acclaimed author of many books for babies, youth, and young adults. The Spirit of Denendeh: As I Enfold You in Petals is the second installation in a graphic novel series that follows a community that is in need of cultural reclamation and a resurgence of Indigenous healing practices. Van Camp’s book highlights the need for healing in connection to culture to combat the ongoing oppressive systems and circumstances that can contribute to addictions. This graphic novel is also stunningly illustrated, with beautiful and haunting images that are just as adept at telling the story as the words. Additionally, meaningful consultation has taken place with Inuit tattoo artist Angela Hovak Johnston for the inclusion of Inuit culturally significant tattoos in the character illustrations. Richard Van Camp is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his talent in storytelling.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Mature themes: addictions.
Other End Matter: Representing Inuit Tatoos in Comics, and The Anatomy of a Page
Images: Colour illustrations
Contributor Affiliation: Author Richard Van Camp (Tłı̨chǫ Nation), Illustrators: Scott B. Henderson, Donovan Yaciuk, Nickolej Villiger
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools

Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT.He is a graduate of the En'owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria's Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master's Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. He is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. His novel, The Lesser Blessed, is now a movie with First Generation Films and premiered in September of 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is the author of four collections of short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern, The Moon of Letting Go, Godless but Loyal to Heaven and Night Moves, as well as two children's books with Cree artist, George Littlechild: A Man Called Raven and What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?His first baby book, Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, was the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and was given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. Richard followed this up with another board book: Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song for Babies. His third book for babies, Little You, is now out with Orca Book Publishers. The amazing Julie Flett is the artist. Little You is published in Bush Cree, Dene and South Slavey, courtesy of the South Slave Divisional Board of Education. His new book for babies with Julie Flett is called "We Sang You Home" and it is gorgeous!All of Richard Van Camp's children's books are available in Braille for free, anywhere in the world, courtesy of the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) and Accessible Resource Centre-British Columbia (ARC-BC)Richard has six graphic novels and comic books out: his first comic book on deterring youth away from gangs, Path of the Warrior, is published with Cree artist, Steve Sanderson, through the Healthy Aboriginal Network. His second comic book on sexual health is Kiss Me Deadly, with Haida artist Chris Auchter. His four graphic novels are Three Feathers (published in Bush Cree, Dene, South Slavey and English, illustrated by Krystal Mateus, on restorative justice; The Eisner Award Nominated A Blanket of Butterflies, on the theme of peace making, illustrated by Scott Henderson, The Blue Raven, illustrated by Steve Sanderson on mental health, and Spirit, a suicide prevention comic book illustrated by Emily Brown (which is also published in Bush Cree, Dene, and South Slavey and English).

Richard Van Camp's profile page

Scott Henderson (he/him/his) is author/illustrator of the sci-fi/fantasy comic, The Chronicles of Era and has illustrated select titles in the Canadian Air Force’s For Valour series and Tales From Big Spirit series, the graphic novel series 7 Generations and A Girl Called Echo, select stories in This Place: 150 Years Retold, Fire Starters, an AIYLA Honour Book, and Eisner-award nominee, A Blanket of Butterflies. In 2016, he was the recipient of the C4 Central Canada Comic Con Storyteller Award. https://scotthendersonart.wordpress.com/

Scott B. Henderson's profile page

Since 1998, Donovan Yaciuk (he/him/his) has done colouring work on books published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse comics, and High Water Press including A Girl Called Echo and Breakdown: Reckoner Rises series and This Place: 150 Years Retold. Donovan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Manitoba and began his career as a part of the legendary, now-defunct Digital Chameleon colouring studio. He lives in Winnipeg, MB Canada, with his wife and two daughters.
 

Donovan Yaciuk's profile page

Nickolej Villiger (he/him/his) is a visual artist focusing on comic books and illustration. Nickolej is also a musician and has composed, produced, and arranged for video games and film. Dedicated to his family and fans of his work, he is most fulfilled when creating something that is uniquely his own, unfettered and unobstructed by the outside world. Nickolej lives and works in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Nickolej Villiger's profile page

• Nominated, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Graphic Novel
• Short-listed, Robert Kroetsch – City of Edmonton Book Prize
• Short-listed, High Plains Book Awards, Young Adult
• Nominated, Sequential Magazine Awards
• Nominated, YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens
• Nominated, Nominated for YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2023

I loved [A Blanket of Butterflies] so much and the second book is just as good.

49th Kids, Top Grade CanLit for the Classroom

Once again, Van Camp affectingly melds his T???ch? Dene heritage—and his Fort Smith hometown—with urgent, contemporary storytelling, memorably enlivened by Henderson’s meticulous, realistic art and vibrantly colored by Yaciuk.

Booklist

Among 49th Kids's New Books for Indigenous History Month list

49th Shelf

Bringing in everything from traditional cooking to magical medicine power, Van Camp’s graphic novel celebrates cultural resiliency while never shying away from the difficulty faced by his characters.

Vancouver Sun

Among Pat St. Germain's Spring-fresh titles diverse and dazzling collection.

Montreal Gazette

It is a delight to have such a positive depiction of Dene spirituality and the people in this superb story of hope, strength of spirit, and redemption. The story celebrates family connections, memories, and stories through the text and the stunningly illustrated and colored illustrations.

No Flying No Tights blog

Among CBC Books 20 Canadian Comics to Check Out in the First Half of 2023

CBC Books