Book review: Dancing With Our Ancestors

Reviewed by Alex Hebert

Dancing With Our Ancestors is the fourth book in the Sk’ad’a stories and is a father-daughter collaboration between Robert Davidson and Sara Florence Davidson, with bright illustrations by Janine Gibbons. The series is about Haida culture, experience, and adventures. This story is appropriate and interesting for young readers aged 9-12.

This book is about an Indigenous ceremony called ‘potlatch’, held by a Haida family in Hydaburg, Alaska. It is told from the point of view of a young girl and she shares the story of her last ceremony with her late brother. The importance of the potlatch is to celebrate their culture and the freedom to, legally, sing the songs and dance the dances of their ancestors.

The book is exciting, powerful, and educational for readers. The cultural significance of the potlatch is the main theme of the book. Readers will understand the feeling and excitement of being able to finally celebrate, dance, and dress freely through illustrations and excellent vocabulary. Additionally, readers will learn about what happens at a potlatch such as feasts, speeches, dances, gifts, and music. The way the topics are discussed is appropriate and exceptional for young readers.

Sarah Florence Davidson and Robert Davidson, illustrated by Janine Gibbons. Dancing With Our Ancestors. Winnipeg: Portage & Main Press, 2022.

ISBN: 9781774920244