Hetxw'ms Gyetxw also known as Brett D. Huson, is from the Gitxsan Nation. Growing up in this matrilineal society, Brett developed a passion for the culture, land and politics of his people, and a desire to share their knowledge and stories. Huson is the author of the Mothers of Xsan series about various animals in the Gitxsan traditional territory.

The first in the series, Huson's debut book for children The Sockeye Mother (HighWater $23), won the Science Writers and Communicators Book Award in 2017 as well as the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Awards, Younger Category, at the 2018 Manitoba Book Awards. Other titles in the series include The Grizzly Mother, The Eagle Mother and The Frog Mother. The Wolf Mother was released in September, 2021.

From publicity (for The Frog Mother): "To the Gitxsan, Nox Ga'naaw is a storyteller, speaking truths of the universe. When Nox Ga'naaw, the frog mother, releases her eggs among the aquatic plants of a pond, the tiny tadpoles are left to fend for themselves. As they hatch, grow legs, and transform into their adult selves, they must avoid the mouths of hungry predators. Will the young frogs survive to lay their own eggs, continuing a cycle 200 million years in the making? In book four of the Mothers of Xsan series, young readers learn about the life cycle of the Columbia Spotted Frog, the special significance of this species to the Gitxsan, and how Nox Ga'naaw and her offspring are essential to the balance that is life."

From publicity (for The Wolf Mother): "New [wolf] pups have just begun to open their eyes, one of which is a striking black female. Every day, her ears grow larger, her eyesight gets sharper, and her legs stretch farther. As she learns to hunt, play, and run with her pack, instinct pulls her to explore beyond her home territory. Will the young wolf’s bold spirit help her find a new pack of her very own? Learn about the life cycle of these magnificent canines, the traditions of the Gitxsan, and how gray wolves contribute to the health of their entire ecosystem."

From publicity (for The Raven Mother): "Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)’s Mothers of Xsan series transports young readers to Northwestern British Columbia, where they will learn about the traditions of the Gitxsan, the lives of ravens and why these acrobatic flyers are so important to their ecosystem. Follow along as Nox Gaak, the raven mother, teaches her chicks what they need to survive with the help of her flock."


BOOKS

The Sockeye Mother (HighWater, 2017) $23 978-1-55379-739-5. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Grizzly Mother (HighWater, 2019) $23 978-1553797760. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Eagle Mother (Highwater, 2020) $23 978-1-55379-859-0. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Frog Mother (Highwater, 2021) $23 978-1553799016. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Wolf Mother (Highwater, 2021) $23 978-1-553799788. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Raven Mother (Highwater, 2022) $24.95 9781774920039. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
The Bee Mother (Portage & Main Press, 2024) $24.95 9781774920800. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan

[BCBW 2024]