Bøger udgivet af Hancock House Publishers Ltd ,Canada

The proceedings of the IV International Symposium on Breeding Birds in Captivity held in in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from September 7-12th, 2007. The conference theme was Conservation Through Aviculture and had over 50 presenters covering various aspects of aviculture, zoology, avian conservation, medicine and management. With nearly 500 colour pages featuring multiple charts, graphs, figures and tables depicting various aspects of avian husbandry, management and both in-situ and ex-situ conservation aspects. With over 100 international contributors, these proceedings represent possibly the largest compilation of information pertaining to avian conservation breeding to date.More information available at www.isbbc.org

The Making of Hominology is a detailed work aimed at moving the study of relict hominoids from the fringes of science to a fully recognized scientific discipline-The Science of Hominology. The main author, Dmitri Bayanov (born 1932), worked directly with Professor Boris Porshnev and other early Russian scientists investigating the possible existence of Relict Hominoids. Bayanov's long journey began in the early 1960s and has continued until this day. This book, covers the subject from the dawn of written communications in Europe and Asia, and then in North America. Dmitri Bayanov coined the term "Hominology" and from the outset has sought to convince the general scientific community that there is enough evidence to support his recommendation. His "arguments" reflect his significant understanding of the subject and depth of his studies. What he presents is truly convincing.From a scientific standpoint, this book is the most important work on Hominology ever written. It is both fascinating and highly educational with a special illustrated section on what we know about North America's hominoid-the sasquatch or bigfoot.

Canoes were important to the Indigenous people who lived long ago on the shores of the northwest coast. Wherever they went, they traveled by dugout canoes. Some of their canoes could carry fifty and more people across open ocean water. others were small and were only used on quiet, sheltered bays. There were canoes made to be poled up rivers and those designed to carry huge loads of freight from place to place.There were light canoes made for women to use, fishing canoes, and even canoes for war.Only a carver who had the special skills, a "gift" the people called it, could carve a canoe from a cedar tree. Those men were honored for their work and were well paid with food, blankets, boxes or tools. It was considered a privilege for an Indigenous boy to be able to learn to make a canoe from such a carver. Koni, in our story, was such a boy.Once a canoe was carved and it proved to be a good craft, it was very valuable., The people respected it as if it were a living thing. They gave names to their canoes and took good care of them.This coloring book is about an Indigenous canoe and how it came to be. As you color the pictures, you will learn what it was like to be a First Peoples boy of long ago and how carvers transformed giant cedar logs into large, sturdy canoes.Since there is a lot of detail in the pictures, you might want to use felt pens or even colored pencils instead of crayons. Whatever you decide to use, most importantly, have fun!

There is a foreword and abstract in Dutch (as well as English versions) and chapter 15 is also in Dutch with an English abstract. This dissertation describes the foraging habits and capture rates of four species of bird-hunting falcons; Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), and Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus). Eight of the nine study areas were situated in western Canada in widely different habitats, and the observation periods intermittently included all seasons over 44 years, 1965-2008. The various chapters report and compare the location-specific hunting methods and choice of prey of these falcons in the following scenarios: (1) Migrating Peregrines hunting waterbirds at Beaverhills Lake, a large wetland in central Alberta; (2) Migrating Peregrines and Merlins capturing small shore-birds and passerines at Beaverhills Lake; (3) Breeding Peregrines that launched their hunts from the high chimneys of an industrial powerplant by a large Alberta lake and selectively took gulls; (4) Marine Peregrines nesting on Pacific island cliffs and preying on seabirds; (5) Peregrines and other raptors hunting wintering Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and ducks at Boundary Bay on the Pacific coast of British Columbia; (6) Peregrines specializing on teal and American Wigeon (Anas Americana) wintering on coastal farmlands; (7) Territorial pairs of Peregrines and Prairie Falcons competing for prey and nest sites on a sympatric breeding range along an Alberta river; (8) Prairie Falcons and Gyr-falcons wintering in the city of Edmonton and capturing Rock Doves (Columba livia); (9) Gyrfalcons hunting Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) wintering on Alberta farmlands; (10) Klepto-parasitic interference from eagles and buteo hawks with hunting Peregrines and Gyrfalcons, and intra- and interspecific prey theft between falcons. The largest set of data pertains to the Peregrine, which was studied in all seasons and habitats except during winter in central Alberta. In addition, this thesis reports on the population dynamics and nest site competition between Peregrines and Prairie Falcons on a sympatric breeding range in Alberta over a span of 48 years. The Peregrine became extirpated during the 1960s. Large-scale efforts to reintroduce the species in the 1990s seemed initially successful, resulting in seven new breeding pairs, but they dwindled to one, while the Prairie Falcons continued to do well. The first chapter of the thesis details 15 years of Peregrine migrations at a large lake in central Alberta, and the last chapter analyses the fall passage and hunting habits of Peregrines along the Wadden Sea coast of the Netherlands. There, the specific research question was whether or not Dunlins wintering on the Dutch coast would engage in over-ocean flocking manoeuvres during high tides that inundate all mudflat habitats. The phenomenon proved to be very rare and the probable reasons are discussed in detail.

A remarkable & entertaining account of the bigfoot phenomenon. Ohio is among the top five states in reported bigfoot incidents because of the state's vast farmlands (easy food), extensive forest areas, and abundant water resources. Numerous reports of a strange apelike creature continue to emanate from Ohio's vast rural and forested areas. Now commonly known as bigfoot, the creature is mainly seen in farming communities as it obviously searches for easy food. Large humanlike footprints in cornfields, pasture lands and woodland trails provide tangible evidence of its passage. Joedy Cook and George Clappison have spent almost twenty years investigating the bigfoot phenomenon in Ohio and other eastern states. The information they have gathered on Ohio incidents is presented in this thought-provoking book by Chris Murphy, an author and bigfoot researcher in British Columbia, Canada. While most scientists still reject the possible existence of bigfoot, this book will leave you in awe as to why more is not being done to resolve what is surely North America's greatest mystery. Originally published in 1997 under a different title, the Murphy, Cook, Clappison team has completely revised and updated the work. Many new sightings have been documented and numerous photographs and illustrations have been added. The book has had a complete makeover, with the provision of more and better information on all aspects of the remarkable bigfoot phenomenon in the State of Ohio. Ohio ranks sixth in North America in the number of bigfoot-related incidents by state or province. The details provided in this book give a clear understanding of just how widespread the phenomenon is in Ohio. The astounding eye-witness accounts will convince even the most ardent skeptics that the bigfoot issue has gone far beyond legend and willful fabrications. About the title: Use of the Ohio term Grassman to identify an unusual ape-man creature appears to go back to at least the turn of the last century. Apparently, sightings of the creature in tall grass (including the young of the species) on Ohio's plains resulted in the name. As the creature was somewhat terrifying in appearance, it appears the term was used in a foreboding sense with children (i.e., the Grassman will get you!). Descriptions of the Grassman are identical to those of bigfoot or the sasquatch; however, the Grassman appears to have some different habits or ways of life.

Leave the civilized world behind as Raincoast Sasquatch takes you out into the rain-drenched forests of the Pacific Northwest on the trail of a living, breathing species of hominid, unlike any known primate today. Enjoy the mystery as you explore the existence of this elusive creature along the remote coasts of British Columbia and Alaska. Raincoast Sasquatch is an impressive collection of the first-hand accounts, historical reports and Native folklore that surround Bigfoot/Sasquatch. Sure to be enjoyed by believers and skeptics alike, this book will make you take a closer look into forests everywhere.

A pictorial history of various First Nations groups across the Pacific Northwest covering various Indigenous arts including basket weaving, blanket weaving, and clothing knitting. Includes unique historic imagery along with more modern depictions of these traditional practices. Includes nearly 100 images and illustrations of these cultural traditions.

He's been called "Vancouver's famous crow", "a sought-after film star", and "East Vancouver's bad boy bird". It`s Canuck! The orphan crow who rose to fame with countless news stories about his adventures, a documentary film under his belt and a Facebook page with over 100,000 followers. Now he's the subject of a kids colouring and activity book. East Vancouver resident and Canuck fan Arran Yarmie teamed up with his nine-year-old daughter to create A Crow called Canuck. This book documents Canuck's life from a fledgling chick to his well-known adventures and misadventures as an adult. Riding a SkyTrain and helping himself to customers meals in a fast food restaurant are a few of Canuck's exploits documented. But life for this celebrity crow has not always been glamorous. A run-in with a pole-wielding, human-induced injury almost cost him his life. Other confrontations with a postal carrier ruffled many feathers but were eventually smoothed out. Canuck also explains some of the plights and dangers that urban wildlife face with an underlying conservation message.With 24 story and colouring pages and 12 activity pages, A Crow Called Canuck will not only entertain but educate children about the importance of peacefully coexisting with urban wildlife. Hancock House Publishers and the authors of this book are dedicated to this mission and proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.

A Guide to Medicinal Wild Fruits and Berries will get you outside in the open woods, vacant lots, fields, and meadows in search of your favourite wild berries. This comprehensive and easy-to-use guide explores twenty-seven of the most common and versatile berries found in North America. Created with the amateur naturalist in mind, this handbook will teach you when, where and how to harvest the plants. Author and illustrator Julie Gomez, has provided informative and well-organized text as well as accurate and attractive line drawings of the various flowers, leaves, seeds and when necessary, roots. You will learn about their medicinal properties and uses as well as how to prepare them for the table. Whether you are exploring a nearby roadside or your own backyard, this helpful guide will encourage you to experience the succulent rewards of wild herbs.

This great Chief's Indian name Heinmot'tooyalakekt meant "Thunder Traveling to High Places Then Returning". He received it from his Father who considered thunder he heard shortly after his son's birth to be an omen from the Great Spirit. As an omen it had validity.Joseph, as he became known to settlers and historians, led his people in a revolt against mandatory resettlement in 1877. He was never a war chief; he was a civic chief but his diplomatic skills were ignored or swept aside by Washington bureaucrats and politicians in a series of Treaty betrayals and broken promises. By 1877 Joseph and three allied chiefs had suffered enough and he led his people on a five month trek that exceeded 1500 miles through what are now the States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. At every step, with less than 200 warriors, he defeated and humiliated Washington's great Army of the Northwest until finally, with safety in Canada a mere 45 miles away his people, hungry and without adequate supplies, could resist no longer. Although more than 300 of the refugees escaped to Canada, Joseph and the remainder sued for peace. He made an honorable agreement with the two generals involved but that pact was also torn up by their political masters in Washington. The sub-title, Trail of Glory and Sorrow, tells the story in one line. The first part of his trail is The Glory and the second part is The Sorrow.Although several books about this illustrious chief have been written most cover only segments of his life. None cover the entire Trail from his birth c.1840 to his death in 1904. None explain the reasons for the revolt or the aftermath. None cast the blame upon those most responsible for the revolt - two US Presidents, several State and Territorial Governors, three ranking generals, a rogue missionary and dozens of minor federal bureaucrats. This book covers the entire Trail of Glory and Sorrow.

Welcome to gold creek and ghost town country where towns stand in another century, the echoes of history are audible, and the wilderness is still just a glance away. From the sagebrush, desert country of southern valleys of the Okanagan and Similkameen across to the high grandeur of the East Kootenays, the southern interior of BC remains an entrancing region. To some people it is the ghost town country, and area where half a hundred towns stood in another century and names like Sandon, Phoenix, Ferguson and Cascade City were familiar words. To others it is the land of gold creeks, for there was a time when streams like Perry, Granite, Rock and Wild Horse drew thousands of miners in their never ending quest for Eldorado. Fortunately, some of this area remains relatively unchanged and even today the wilderness is but a glance away and beyond the traveled routes, the trail blazing country still beckons. For that rather unique breed, those who feel at ease in places far off the beaten path or deep in the back country where the echoes of history are still audible and the atmosphere of half-forgotten eras lingers on, we hope that this book will be enjoyable, for it is for those individuals that is in intended.

Why would a Colorado rancher sell the home place-the ranch his family had owned and operated for four generations-and move the entire operation to a remote 300,000-acre spread in British Columbia, Canada? For the adventure! And adventure is what Tom and Connie Hook and their sons found. Two miles above the mighty Fraser River, the Empire Valley Ranch headquarters lay 80 gravel miles beyond the pavement. The range extended another 75 miles further west and higher up into the Coastal Mountains. The Hook's exploits included punching cows in the high country with colorful cowboys who were mostly Indigenous neighbors or outlaws hiding from the RCMP. The hazards, besides mountain weather, included wolves, grizzly bears, cougars, and eagles. Mountain Ranch at the End of the Road is the tale of life on a remote ranch: vast distances, long rides, interesting neighbors, colorful cowboys, unlikely horse stories, and hair-raising wildlife encounters. Tom Hook served God, loved his family, and respected his employees and neighbors. He was a gentleman, a leader, adventurer, cattleman, preacher and beloved father and husband-and, to people all over the West and as far north as Alaska, a loyal friend. In the last months of his life Tom was blogging at CattleToday.com. At over 150,000 hits, his is the top-viewed board. He filed his final post a few days before he died suddenly on February 8, 2011. Many of Tom's readers asked him to publish his stories in book form. What you hold in your hands is the result.

This book is the republication of the authors earlier work of the same title. It covers Steinburg's investigations of the ongoing Sasquatch question in the Province of Alberta from 1979 until 2002, when he moved to the lower mainland of British Columbia. Reports continue to this day. And the main question still persists- Does the Sasquatch indeed exist? And does the creature live in the forest mountains of Canada's Wild Rose province? Steenburg believes so, and so do the many Albertans who believe they have seen it.

Amber River:a guide to unique pubs of Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea takes the reader to eighty-five pubs from Swartz Bay to Port Hardy and Tofino to Powell River exploring their uniqueness and suggesting nearby activities, hikes or walks to turn a pub trip into a day's event. A guidebook with photos, stories, contact information and suggestions on how to use the guide, it can form the basis for a pleasant one-day outing, an adventurous road trip or a determined visit to all the pubs and their locales. It is, in no small way, a rationale for touring scenic Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea. All this with ample opportunity for the determined explorer to discover more hidden treasures.This book is a must for any beer aficionado.

Through simple words and illustrations, this book presents a powerful, practical and visionary model for community healing. It outlines a healing process for individuals and communities that is universal and goes to the core of what it means to be a member of the human family.The Transcultural Model emerged from a forty-year career of individual and group psychotherapy at the grassroots level in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. It is a synthesis of healing principles found in community development and in the wisdom of transpersonal psychologists and Indigenous Knowledge. Elders and transpersonal psychologists are quoted, reminding us all that the rediscovery of the Inner Self/Spirit provides the motivation and the direction for a healing journey.The interactive and dynamic relationship between the individual and community is explored. In Chapter 7, Louise Gordon, Spokesperson for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, reviews the community development process, providing guidelines for integrating the spiritual dimension to a holistic approach to community healing. When a community member opts to begin healing, everyone connected to them is affected in some way. Therefore when a part of the whole (an individual) changes, the whole (the community) changes as well. This is inevitable. The deeper and more profound the changes in the individual, the more profound are the changes in the community. This is a powerful dynamic.Healing Circles are carefully designed to promote the healing process in a safe environment and for the creation of support groups for on-going community healing. Detailed formats for five Circles are provided, ready to be led by Indigenous or non-Indigenous persons who have experience in leading groups and who are dedicated to their own healing.

A first-of-its-kind resource, Raptors in Captivity is designed as a reader-friendly reference tool covering a wide range of topics from choosing a suitable species, to housing and transportation, diet, medical care, equipment, training. Raptors in Captivity is the recommended US Fish & Wildlife Service 'bible' for the care and keeping of raptors in captivity -- an incredible endorsement! If you're a zoo, rehab center or a falconer, here are the guidelines for safely caring for raptors -- and complying with permits.Covers a range of topics from making the decision to keep raptors and choosing suitable species, to housing and transportation, diet, medical care, equipment, training, and recovering a lost bird.

This book is the result of renowned zoologist Mr. Todds life work photographing waterfowl around the world, in an attempt to obtain images of every sex, age and plumage type feasible prior to his passing in December 2016. This book is a richly detailed photographic guide to the Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, including the Hawaiian Islands, Greenland, Mexico and the U.S. Territories in Pacific Ocean. The photographs, mostly by the author, were selected to highlight plumage phases, age classes and variation and behavioral postures. Brief text describes the different categories of waterfowl and brief bullet points highlight important identifi cation features. Range maps and population estimates are noted in the text and some details of morphology are also provided in an Appendix.

They were gourmets, the Coast Salish First Nations. They lived along the shores of the Puget Sound, inhabiting the bays and estuaries in the days before the white man came, enjoying the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.Through time, the women developed ingenious methods of cookery to nourish and delight those who dined at their fires. They learned when the food was ripe for harvesting. They discovered which kinds of wood best suited their fires. They designed and made their own cooking equipment from the materials available to them. It is the aim of this book to give the reader an understanding of Indian cookery- with practical recipes where appropriate- and to explain the close relationship between First Nation's food and the Northwest Coast Salish culture.

The hawk feels like a bundle of nerves, head snapping this way and that, muscles contracting with the sound of each snapping twig. At such times, I sense her energy flowing into my hand, up my arm and into my core. Engulfed in the moment, I am no longer an onlooker; I become a predator - the hawk and I hunting as one. When at last a duck suddenly erupts from cover, my body responds with a burst of adrenaline as the hawk explodes of my fist. In that instant, my heart leaps and my spirit flies with the hawk as she fulfills her predatory role. For centuries, people from all walks of life have felt the thrill of hunting with birds of prey. 'Duck Hawking and the Art of Falconry' explores the exhilarating branch of hawking that takes the falconer out to the ponds in pursuit of waterfowl. While duck hawking is a major facet of falconry, it has been highly overlooked in the annals of raptor literature. Author Joe Roy has decades of personal experience with which to create a work devoted to hunting waterfowl with hawks and falcons. This singularly comprehensive treatise celebrates the art of duck hawking. Writing in an entertaining, narrative style, the author presents personal anecdotes to proffer examples and illustrate meaning. Within the pages lie a wealth of practical information covering such topics as training techniques, slip selections, use of thermals, working with hunting dogs, weight management and flight orchestration. Full of stunning photographs, this volume is destined to become the duck hawker's ultimate handbook.

Protect yourself! A Guide to Deadly Herbs discusses, twenty-eight of the most beautiful, yet deadly, herbs found in the fields, meadow, forests, mountains, roadsides and backyards of North America. All the herbs discussed in this guide are extremely dangerous. Children, wild-food enthusiasts, pets and livestock are the most vulnerable, and deaths occur each year. As well as increasing your awareness of poisonous herbs, this book will provide you with an understanding of the dangers that grow both wild and cultivated. The guide provides details on peak seasons, were the herbs commonly grow, which parts of the herb are poisonous, and the manner of their toxicity. Information on history and medicinal uses of these deadly plants is also included. Most importantly, the book teaches how to recognize these herbs, allowing you to avoid handling them or using them for food. This guide belongs in the pocket or backpack of every wild-foot collector and anyone with children or pets.

Have you ever gazed quickly at a totem pole? Wondered what it was saying? Contemplated what its crests meant? Or wondered how it fitted into those structures of a village? Those Born at Koona draws together a complete a story as will ever be told about these monuments of cedar.

What is a petroglyph? Who made them and why? What is rock rubbing? How is it made? In her book, Guide to Indigenous Rock Carvings, Beth Hill examines these questions. She gives a fascinating introduction to the subject of First Peoples Petroglyphs of the Northwest Coastal Region - BC, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Beth Hill and her husband Ray have traveled the coast for close to 20 years, recording the known sites, and discovering others. Out of this came Indian Petroglyphs of the Pacific Northwest, with over 1,000 photos and illustrations. A truly comprehensive study.

The fascinating collection of papers by Dmitri Bayanov, Russia's leading hominologist, explores in detail, the connection between reports and evidence of living relict hominoids (Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Almasty) and the old-age folklore regarding human-like beings.The stories from North America's indigenous people, and those of Russian and other countries are compared and contrasted to what is now known as probable living relict hominoids. We are taken into the not-too-distant past when both men of science and the churce believed in the existence of being, not quite human. The information begs the question, "What came first- the actual beings or the folklore which documents their existence?" This book, Russian Hominology, shares Bayanov's findings.

Bigfoot Film Journal provides a detailed account and analysis of the circumstances and aftermath of one of the most controversial motion picture films in world history-the Patterson/Gimlin film. In October 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin filmed what many people believe was an actual sasquatch or bigfoot on a shore of Bluff Creek in Northern California.The one-minute film they took of the creature has been vigorously debated for over 40 years, and it continues to reside in the annals of the "unexplained." The creature filmed cannot be proven to be either an actual primate of some sort or a fabrication.Much has been written about the film in the past, but the details of the filming and its aftermath have not been thoroughly researched and subjected to in-depth critical analysis. With the assistance and cooperation of Robert Gimlin and several major sasquatch/bigfoot researchers, the author has methodically detailed the fascinating story of the filming and the subsequent events.Many little known (or indeed previously unknown) facts are presented that dismiss, or at the very least challenge, current beliefs and understandings. For those interested in the bigfoot/sasquatch issue, here is the "behind the scene" account of what has become to many people the most compelling evidence of the creature's existence.

The northern goshawk is one of the principal members of the forest raptor community that I investigated during graduate studies in the northeastern United States. As a wildlife biologist for Beak Consultants, I also conducted surveys, research, and GIS-habitat modeling on goshawks in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to that work, another part of my job was also to provide expertise on goshawk issues and remain current with the scientific literature on goshawks. After amassing a wealth of information, data, and field experience, it seemed like a natural step to compile this knowledge into a single handy source or reference book for people keenly interested in North American goshawks or raptors in general. While there have been several recent reviews on goshawk biology, I think that this book presents a unique perspective of experience gained from a biologist who has studied goshawks from coast to coast. In addition, one of my strengths as a scientist has been my ability to see the big picture and not get muddled in lengthy debate over minor details. Thus, I feel that this book presents a practical, logical, and holistic approach to the study and conservation of goshawks in North America. More than simply provide another review, I hope that I have synthesized the most critical elements of life history and scientific analyses into a thesis which provides a complete and comprehensive understanding of the goshawk.

Filled with pictures and diagrams, the book describes how to construct shelters, snares and fishnets. It details how to light a campfire, cook wild flora and fauna and recognize harmful plants and animals. This book is a must for hunters, campers, hikers or anyone contemplating a trip into or through the wilderness, whether it be a forest, desert or southern bayou. Author Ted Meyers has created an easy-to-read guide that spells out to readers how to avoid trouble in the woods and what to do if they find themselves in such a dilemma. Don't leave home without it!This book is not intended for the experienced hikers or woodsmen who know what they are doing in the bush. Neither is it intended for serious plant gatherers, as they are well acquainted with the plants they seek. They have already studied the excellent books which have been written on the subject, books which teach the serious student of woodlore and herb gathering, not only how to identify thousands of plants but also how to use them as food and medicine. This book has a totally different purpose. It is sort of Wilderness 101, if you will, and is intended for those who do not realize the bush is a good place to avoid unless you know a thing or two about it. Still, while it can be hostile, dangerous and inhospitable, there is no reason to think of the wilderness as being so fearsome that it cannot be tamed.Most people who become lost in the bush find themselves in trouble because they go in oblivious to the dangers, sometimes on purpose but more often by accident. Most of these people find themselves in deep trouble because they fail to take a few simple precautions. This book will help you avoid, or at least alleviate, much of the danger you will encounter. Every year in Canada and the United States, hundreds of hikers, hunters and just plain folk get lost in the woods. Most of these people are rescued, some relatively quickly. Some, however, are never found or are found dead or close to it. Some of the deaths are from starvation because the lost ones do not know they are surrounded by edible plants which they could not identify in any case. This little book will show anyone who can read (or listen while someone else reads aloud) and remember a few basic tips about ways to survive in any situation in any area of North America - including the Arctic. Because survival is not an exact science, techniques are not cut and dried. Therefore, specific chapters deal with specific situations. Each will cover the circumstances a lost person is most likely to encounter in the hostile and unfamiliar environment into which he or she is thrust. Therefore, if you or someone you know might be venturing into the bush anytime in the future, flying over rugged country or trail riding without a qualified guide (guides have been known to get lost as well) through unfamiliar terrain, check out this book first.Make it part of your basic kit or give it to your friends as part of their kits. It could prove to be your salvation, perhaps your only friend, for a greater number of days than you care to think about.

Collection of legends and myths from the West Coast. Everything owes its existence to Great Spirit. With his supernatural helpers Great Spirit maintains order over all of his creations. This belief is at the core of the stories Pacific Coast natives told their children to explain the world. Artisans carved images and painted pictures telling great stores such as how Coyote stopped the great flood, why raccoons have masked eyes, and how lightning was created when Thunderbird lit his way in the night. As well as being wonderfully imaginative, the stories carried great meaning that conveyed the wisdom of the elders. Unfortunately, when the missionaries arrived they wrongly denounced the totems as pagan idols and the stores as heathen tales. They did not hear the messages within. This book relates and analyses several of these repressed stories. The author was young when he first heard them from native elders. The tales so captivated him that he wrote them down. Now that they are published, he hopes readers will see them not only as entertainment, but also as teachings for those who will listen.