Châhkâpâs: A Naskapi Legend shares the story of Châhkâpâs, a heroic
figure in First Nations storytelling, who performs feats of strength and
skill in spite of his diminutive size
The book shares this traditional legend as originally recorded in the
Naskapi community in northern Quebec in 1967 when it was narrated by
John Peastitute, a Naskapi Elder and accomplished storyteller.
Transcribed in the Naskapi language and syllabic orthography, the book
offers a literary resource for the Naskapi language community, and the
English translation enables those unfamiliar with the language, or the
story, to discover this important legend.
The book also contains extensive analysis of stories about Châhkâpâs,
notes about the provenance of the recordings, a biography of the
storyteller, and a history of the Naskapi people. Lavish illustrations
from Elizabeth Jancewicz--an artist raised in the Naskapi
community--provide a sensitive and accurate graphical account of the
legend, which has also been approved by Naskapi speakers themselves.