Text
SFBCIAC Scrapbook, Page 20
B.C. Historical Quarterly Review (Jan, 1941)
The Tale of the Nativity, As Told by the Indian Children of Inkameep, British Columbia. Published by Miss Alice Ravenhill, Windermere Hotel, Victoria, B.C. Paper, 19 pages, with 8 illustrations by Sis-hu-lk. Price, 25 cents. For the past seven or eight years Mr. Anthony Walsh has been working with the children of Inkameep School with a view to encouraging them to develop their own artistic abilities. He felt that Indian children had talents of their own which, if given scope, would result in real contributions of our artistic life, and he was not mistaken. The present booklet sets forth the story of the Nativity as told by the Indian boys and girls, and is illustrated with drawings done in purely native style by one of their number. A brief quotation may be permissible by way of illustration. After the birth of the child, “Joseph let the men come in one at a time. They knelt and looked down on the beautiful Baby, and though they did not speak out loud they told Him all that was in their hearts. The youngest man who was a cripple then went up and put his pet brown mouse on the corner of the cradle. It stood up on its hind legs, tucked its front feet under its chin and bowed to the baby. Then it crawled into the lacing near the feet of the Baby, curled up and went to sleep. The oldest man had brought the prettiest of mountain lambs and laid it at Mary’s feet. Then, each in turn, went up and shook hands with Mary. After they had warmed themselves at the fire and Joseph had made them some Indian tea, they bowed their heads and left” (p.12). The drawings scattered throughout the text are equally charming. We owe to Mr. Walsh, and to Miss Ravenhill and her publication committee, a debt of deep gratitude for having brought this concrete example of Indian ability to us. K.E.K.