New Gitxsan nature story
December 03rd, 2025
The award-winning Mothers of Xsan series is set to expand with the announcement of its newest title, The Cedar Mother (HighWater Press $24.95), by author Hetxw’ms Gyetxw also known as Brett D. Huson. The book, illustrated by Natasha Donovan (a Métis illustrator originally from Vancouver), is slated for release in February 2026.
Hetxw’ms Gyetxw, who is from the Gitxsan Nation of the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, developed the series as part of a vision to share the knowledge and stories of his people.
The Story of Nox Sim Gan
The Cedar Mother introduces young readers to Nox Sim Gan, the cedar mother, whose life cycle spans centuries and whose roots anchor the landscape. The book explores the remarkable story of the western red cedar, a tree vital to BC’s coastal ecosystems, detailing its role in providing shelter, creating oxygen and healing the Gitxsan with medicinal tea.
The non-fiction book is aimed at young scientists aged 9 to 12 and explains the interconnectedness of all life. It shares the wisdom passed down through generations, including how the cedar nourishes herself through an unexpected connection to salmon. The story culminates with the cedar’s final gift to the Gitxsan as she is honored as an Indigenous story pole.
The previous title in the series, The Sockeye Mother (HighWater, 2017), won the Science Writers and Communicators Book Award in 2017.
Illustration by Natasha Donovan.
9781774921586
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