Teachings of the Drum

Ren Louie is Nuu-chah-nulth from Ahousaht and his traditional name is Wikinanish, which translates to ‘eldest son’. He comes from mixed Nuu-chah-nulth, African American, and Ukrainian heritage. With his background in Indigenous Studies and his work as an Aboriginal Role Model in schools, he hopes to one day teach Indigenous Studies at the post-secondary level. Ren is passionate about his language and culture and enjoys learning new songs and traditional teachings from Elders and Knowledge Keepers in the Indigenous community. Born and raised on Lekwungen and WSÁNEC Territory in Victoria, B.C., Ren continues to live there today. Karlene Harvey is an illustrator and writer, and she lives on the unceded and ancestral home territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. She is Tsilhqot’in through her mother and Syilx through her father, both sides of her family include a mix of European ancestry. Following her studies at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, she pursued an illustration practice that was inspired by zine and underground comic culture, independent animation and collage art. In recent years, she is invested in representation and how to best depict diverse peoples within her drawings. She recently completed a Master of Arts degree in English Literature with a specific focus on Indigenous literature at the University of British Columbia.

“The book highlights the significance of heritage and culture to a child’s identity.”— BC Booklook