Nature Power: In the Spirit of an Okanagan Storyteller

Becky Norman is a Kitchener-based freelance writer.

Wendy Wickwire’s introduction to this book is full of love and respect
for master Okanagan storyteller Harry Robinson. Nature Power is a
collection of Robinson’s stories about nature helpers, those symbols
of spiritual energy, in animal form, that help to heal. The stories are
a blend of historical fact and mysticism, a weaving together of the
magical and the ordinary. From stories of how children received their
nature power to tales of how those same children (now as adults) use
that power to heal themselves and others, Robinson has recounted the
deeply moving and enchanting lore of the Native peoples. He makes
“white people” envious and frightened to lose that bit of themselves
that, in the distant past, was once tied to the earth.

In compiling and editing the stories, Wickwire has tried to remain as
faithful to the original telling as possible. While this authenticity is
admirable, it can also be frustrating to the reader: the interchanging
of pronouns can be confusing and the incessant repetition of ideas slows
this work down. Nevertheless, this book should be read. The poetry
format makes the text easier to understand, and reading it aloud also
gives the meaning more focus. This is an important book not only because
it keeps Robinson’s spirit alive but also because it keeps our spirits
alive as well.