Written and illustrated by Hjalmer Wenstob and Timmy Masso, brothers from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, and Hjalmer’s wife, Annika Benoit-Jansson.

This is a beginner level Nuu-chah-nulth language book, with full sentences in Nuu-chah-nulth followed by the English translations. The words in the book are inspired by a song by Hjalmer Wenstob and Timmy Masso, and will soon be linked to a video to learn the song as well.

Annika Benoit-Jansson is Mi’kmaw, from the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nations, as well as French, Irish and Swedish. Annika has a Child and Youth Care (CYC) undergraduate degree and Master’s degree from the University of Victoria (UVic). She has been learning the Nuu-chah-nulth language for the last 4 years, and has completed the Indigenous Language Fluency Certificate Program through North Island College (NIC). In the last 3 years, she has co-created five short children’s books with Hjalmer Wenstob and Timmy Masso, incorporating Nuu-chah-nulth language and imagery. She currently works with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, as the Nuu-chah-nulth language planner. 

Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob is an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in sculpture and carving. He is Nuu-chah-nulth from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on his dad's side, and Norwegian and English on his mum’s side. Hjalmer completed both an undergraduate and master's degree in Fine Art at the University of Victoria, and in 2017, Hjalmer and his family opened Cedar House Gallery in Ucluelet, B.C. Recently he has been working on putting art back in Tla-o-qui-aht territory, and has carved and installed 8 place-marker poles, as well as a 26-foot totem pole and a Welcome Sign to the territory.

čawituʔa Timothy Masso comes from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Timothy spearheaded the first Nuu-chah-nulth language program at Ucluelet Elementary, while still an elementary school student himself. In high school he was accepted into the Nuu-chah-nulth language degree program at UVIC. Now graduated from both the language program and with a teaching degree, Timothy is a Nuu-chah-nulth language advocate, emerging artist, and strong activist for his community, both locally and at an international level.