The Rainbow, the Midwife & the Birds contains seven Dene stories, as told by Raymond Yakeleya. "Flight Through the Rainbow" is about flying through a rainbow in a small plane and experiencing multi-sensations of colour. It also tells the legend of the spider and how its web catches raindrops that create the rainbow. "The Midwife and the Spirit of Life," dedicated to Raymond's Granny Harriet Gladue, is about the birth of babies and bringing their spirits into the world. "The Slingshot and the Songbird" is about a boy's sadness over killing a friendly songbird. "The Medicine Brothers and the Giant Birds" is a tale told to Raymond by his uncle George Blondin about the hazards of giant animals when the world was new. 

À propos des auteurs

Yakeleya, Raymond

Author, activist, and filmmaker Raymond Yakeleya is Dene First Nations from Tulita, Northwest Territories. He is series co-editor of Durvile’s Indigenous Spirit of Nature book series. 

Gibbon, Samantha

Samantha Gibbon illustrated the cover and “The Midwife and the Spirit of Life.” She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and a descendant of Peayasis Band in Northern Alberta. Raised an otipemisiwak (Métis) and Nehiyaw Iskwew in Treaty 6 Territory on Papaschase Land (Amiskwaciywaskahikan/Edmonton), she’s a senior medical student at the University of British Columbia. Although she currently lives on Syilx territory, her heart forever lies in the prairie brush of her ancestral homelands of Northern Alberta.

Théroux, Rich

Besides being a caveman, Rich is a genius talent at painting and drawing. His art hangs here and there in prominent homes and galleries but he prefers not to boast about it. Rich is founder of Calgary’s Rumble House gallery and happens to also teach junior high school art. He is the author and illustrator of Stop Making Art and Die, and the co-author of the poetry book, A Wake in the Undertow, along with his partner Jess Szabo. Intriguingly, he calls himself a tomato can. He and his gang exist/co-exist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Mountain, Antoine

Antoine Mountain, illustrator of both of the Bird stories, is from the Radelie Koe/Fort Good Hope area of the Dene Nation in Northwest Territories. As an artist, painter, and activist, Antoine focuses on depicting the Dene way of life, his love for the land, and the spiritualism of his faith. He holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University, and is currently doing a PhD in Indigenous Studies at Trent University. Mountain uses his voice and art to ensure that today’s youth do not forget their Dene identity. Antoine also translated the Dene words and phrases throughout the book.