Description
Sherry Hamilton is a member of Westbank First Nation. She is the daughter of Deanna Hamilton (Derrickson) and Barrie Hamilton, the granddaughter of Mary Derrickson, and the great-granddaughter of Harry and Sarah Parker. She received her nsyilxcən name, sisyətkw, meaning “Able Waters,” from her great-uncle Dave Parker when she was four years old. Sherry lives in Westbank, British Columbia, with her husband and daughter. She works at an elementary school as the səxknɬtɬn kl yayát (Executive Assistant). She is the author of Sandy Claws, a cozy story with an Indigenous spin on the origin of Santa Claus.
A curious black bear, skm̓xist (skim-heest), loves helping the children in the village near his den. He decides to reward their good behaviour by delivering gifts on one special winter day. With the help of other forest animals, skm̓xist works hard for months to create a joyful celebration in the village.
Through charming prose and illustrations, Sandy Claws highlights the importance of kindness and honesty. With a playful explanation for why we don’t see bears in the winter, this story offers an Indigenous spin on the origin of Santa Claus.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4-8.
An illustrated glossary of nsyilxcən words and pronunciations is included in the book. nsyilxcən (in-sill-chin) is a Salish language spoken by the Syilx Okanagan People. The author notes that the nsyilxcən language does not have capital letters. Many sounds in nsyilxcən do not exist in English. As such, the English phonetic pronunciations included in parentheses may not be a perfect match to the nsyilxcən pronunciation. Audience: Ages 4-8.
Curriculum Connections:
English Language Arts – structure of a story, reading, listening, and discussing
Social-Emotional Learning – honesty, sharing, managing emotions, showing empathy for others
Social Responsibility – roles and responsibilities in a community
Science – seasons, animal characteristics, hibernation