The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist (A Picture Book)

(Hardback)

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Description

Author Deidre Havrelocks and illustrator Aphelandras The Heartbeat Drum is an uplifting picture book biography of a Cree activist and musician who founded an Indigenous hand drumming group, led by women and children, that spreads joy, healing, and unity

nishkisinn (We are strong) . . .
ninikamonn (We are singing) . . .
mna nika-hkamyimonn (And we will continue) . . .

Whenever young Carol Powder sang along to her familys music, her heart felt light and full of joy. Learning from her grandfather, Moshum, Carol listened closely to the drums heartbeat until one day Moshum made her a drum of her very own. As Carol grew up, she passed down her songs to her children, grandchildren, and many women in her community, just as Moshum taught hereven as women and children became increasingly excluded from sitting at the drum. Despite those who disapproved, she formed her own drumming group called Chubby Cree.

Today, Carol and her group share their music to advocate at climate events, to honor residential school survivors at special ceremonies, and to spread healing for anyone who needs it. Empowering and joyfully illustrated, The Heartbeat Drum is a radiant celebration of preserving Indigenous traditions, finding your voice, and speaking out.

Includes both an authors note and illustrators note, as well as a personal note from Carol Powder herself.

Author Bio

Deidre Havrelock is a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. She was raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and is the author of Why We Dance: A Story of Hope and Healing, Buffalo Wild!, and Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge, coauthored with Edward Kay. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Mtis, with her family. Aphelandra is a designer, illustrator, and bookworm who has been drawing ever since she can remember. Her passion for visual storytelling led her to work in the fields of greeting cards and childrens books. As a descendant of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Aphelandra is especially proud to use her art to help tell the stories of Indigenous people.