Featured Project
Ka’m-t’em: A Journey Toward Healing
“Throughout the book there is a beautiful poetry of resistance and renewal that rings in each essay, echoing a renaissance of hope and transformation” – Michael Yellowbird (Fargo, North Dakota)
K’am-te’m: A Journey toward Healing, co-edited by Dr. Kishan Lara-Cooper and Walter Lara Sr., incorporates the testimonials of 26 California Indigenous leaders of all ages and backgrounds. Ka’m-t’em translates in the Yurok language as a basket that holds the treasures of Indigenous people. As such, this book shares unique concepts of balance and harmony with the human, natural, and spiritual elements of the world.
This book presents Indigenous testimonials of resistance, renewal, advocacy, resilience, beauty, and awakening. For example, a lead plaintiff in Lyng v. NICPA, a case that went to the Supreme Court, shares in-depth Indigenous knowledge and “behind the scenes” influences of the case; a fluent Tolowa speaker describes the impact of colonial education on language loss and his personal journey as a first-language English speaker learning to speak his heritage language; and a regalia maker describes the impact of genocide on communal relationships, the natural environment, and Indigenous spirituality, while relating the journey of reclaiming Indigenous identity through the process of regalia-making. In the sharing and in the listening of Indigenous testimonials, we are reminded of the beauty and the strength within us. The precious knowledge shared in this book inspires reclamation of identity and encourages readers to seek, search, embrace, and value their own truth.
All of the royalties from this book will be forwarded to the Ka’m-t’em scholarship for Indigenous California youth.
Powerful and Thought Provoking Book
, Child Development, Humboldt State University & 0-8 Mental Health Collaborative
“Ka’m-t’em is a powerful and thought provoking book that I am adding to the required reading for my university course on working with diverse families. Ka’m-t’em’s message of strength, survival and resilience is deeply inspiring. It goes to the heart of identity, culture, and speaking one’s own truth. This book is a gem to read and read again.”
Brought New Understanding, Appreciation & Honor
, District Superintendent, California State Parks
“Throughout the work of Ka’m-t’em, Dr. Lara-Cooper has gathered the works of contemporary northwest coast Indigenous leaders and through her educational activities across institutions and within Indigenous peoples of all ages has brought new understanding, appreciation and honor to Indigenous leaders, peoples and youth. It is a wonderful work covering the historical and contemporary experience of northern coastal California’s Indigenous peoples and their struggle with a dominant European ideologies and political systems that impacted Indigenous peoples throughout what is now the United States.”
An Influential Work
, Social Work, Humboldt State University
“Ka’m-t’em: A Journey Toward Healing is an influential work that has reached a national interdisciplinary audience. The book includes narratives of the indigenizing and revitalization of local Indigenous wellness, ceremony, and healing practices. The book is versatile and offers an important perspective for multiple disciplines.”
A Beautiful Poetry of Resistance and Renewal
, Sociology and Anthropology, University of North Dakota
“The writers share first hand experiences that range from survival, perseverance, awakening, activism, searching, recovery, renewal, responsibility, revolution, spirituality, remembering, respect, and balance. It also shares the pain and tragedy of the past and present, along with the awakening and the return to, and conversation of, practices and ceremonies to restore and promote healing. Throughout the book there is a beautiful poetry of resistance and renewal that rings in each essay, echoing a renaissance of hope and transformation.”
Reminded of Beauty & Strength Within Us
, Humboldt State University
“In the sharing and in the listening of Indigenous testimonials, we are reminded of the beauty and strength within us. The precious knowledge shared in this book inspires reclamation of identity and encourages readers to seek, search, embrace, and value their own truth.”
Invaluable Knowledge & Education
, American Indian Studies, Arizona State University
“This book represents an amazing effort to assemble over 20 authors from various ages and education levels. Just as one may gather research from the archives, this book is the gathering of community, cultural, and historical knowledge. In professional settings such as social work, curriculum and development, and public school classrooms, Ka’m-t’em provides invaluable knowledge and responsive education for trainings, workshops, and classrooms.”
Ka'm-t'em: A Journey Toward Healing
The Northern Howl Book Series written and illustrated by Teh-sa’a:n-xwe Cooper (Yurok/Mvskoke/Hupa) includes three books in the series. Teh-sa’a:n-xwe wrote the first book at 8 years old as a shelter-in-place activity. He includes his own experiences and view of the world in each book. This activity has helped him to stay connected with community (at a distance, of course) and provided him an opportunity to share his stories. The series includes:
The Northern Howl: A Story of the Pup
The Northern Howl: Vision and the Spirit Realm
The Northern Howl: Vision’s Journey Home