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ArtsCultureLiterature13TuesdayApril302013CONGRATULATIONSAuroraCollegeGraduates2013WallysDrugsPharmacy.Souvenirs.Magazines.NewspapersToys.Cards.Stationary.LotteryTicketCentreMondaytoSaturday10a.m.to6p.m.Thursday10a.m.to8p.m.SundayCLOSED867-872-2134ByMEAGANWOHLBERGIthinkitsacursetobeanadultandtohavelostthegiftofbeingsillyandbeingplayfulandirtingwiththemagicofeverydaygracesaysacclaimedNorthernauthorRichardVanCamp.WithmybabybooksthatinnocencethatsinsideofmethatIveneverletgoof...andthatsenseofplaythatIhavewitheverydaylifeInallygettohonourtheworldforthatpreciousgift.VanCampsthirdbabybookdoesjustthatbygiv-ingagifttoanewgenerationoflittleones.ToldinshortrhymingstanzasthepoemthatformsLittleYoupraisesbabieswithlineslikeYouaremightyyouaresmallandYouarelifeandbreathadored.VanCampsaysitisare-ectionofthepartofhisbeingthatlivestoplay.WithmyadultworkIwriteaboutwhatbreaksmyheartandIlovewritingsen-sualworkandfunnyworkwhenitcomestomyyoungadultstuffandmyadultstuffbutwhenitcomestothebabybooksthegiftthatFortSmithhasgivenmeisIvealwaysbeenabletoholdontomyinnocenceandmyplayfulnessandjustbesillyhesaid.ItmakespeoplehappyandifImmakingpeoplehappythenImhappy.ThebookpublishedbyOrcainVictoriaandillus-tratedbyJulieFlettwasbornoutofaPearlJamconcertlastyearinEdmontonwhensingerEddieVedderaskedthethousandsoffansintheau-diencetosingHappyBirth-dayforhisdaughter.AtthatmomentVanCampsaidthepoemcameinaash.Ijustfeltthisrushoflovefortheworldandforhumanityanditjustcamelikeaprayerandachantandawishhesaid.ActuallyIthumbedtheentirebookoutinprobably27secondsonmyphone.Thepublisherimmedi-atelyloveditandputFletttoworkonthewarmlyco-louredillustrationsthatshowasmallchildsurroundedbynatureandtheloveofhisorherparents.Itsthersttimewedidababybookwithanillustra-toranditsthesmartestthingweeverdidVanCampsaid.Everyonessoproudofit.OnethousandcopiesofthebookhavebeensenttotheNWTLiteracyCounciltogivetobabiesacrosstheterritoryaswasdonewithVanCampspasttwobabybooksWelcomeSongForBabyandNighty-Night.ThereareveryfewbooksforbabiesandyoungchildrenbyNorthernauthorssothisisgreatHelenBalanoffex-ecutivedirectoroftheNWTLiteracyCouncilsaidinanemail.RichardhaslongbeenastrongsupporteroftheLiteracyCouncilandwehavedoneanumberofproj-ectswithhim.LittleYouwillalsoreceiveitsofcialNorthernlaunchattheupcomingNorthWordswritingfestivalinYellow-knifeattheendofMaywhereparentsandtheirbabieswillbeinvitedtoashortgather-ingandsing-alongandsenthomewithsignedcopies.ThebookwillalsobehandedoutthroughtheIn-uvikandStantonTerritorialhospitalsaswellasthroughtheFortSmithmidwiferyprogram.BooksforBCBabiespur-chased5000copiesofthebooktodistributearoundtheprovincetooandSET-BCistranslatingitintobraille.AndasanadditionalgifttoNorthernersthebookisalsobeingtranslatedintoCreeChipewyanandSouthSlaveybytheSouthSlaveDi-visionalEducationCouncilSSDEC.ThisisaboutFortSmithcreatingitsowncurriculumandliteratureandhavingittranslatedintothelanguagesoftheterritoryVanCampsaid.AlongwithLittleYouVanCamphasagraphicnovelontraditionaljusticecalledThreeFeathersforthcoming.Donewithburgeoning24year-oldartistKrystalDe-NeivaMateusaDiamondJennessHighSchoolgraduateandformerFrenchmonitoratJBTSchoolinFortSmiththebookisanotherinitiativeoftheSSDEC.Thegraphicnovelisslatedforpublicationin2014andwillbepublishedinSouthSlaveyCreeandChipewyanaswellasEnglish.Heisalsointheprocessofwritinganothervolumeofshortstoriesinhisneverend-ingthreadoftalesinvolvingunmistakablyNorthernchar-actersandthemescompletewithstreaksofthesupernat-uralmomentsofviolenceandthecushionofsensual-ity.ThatworkistentativelycalledNightMoves.HesalsobegunworkonanothergraphicnovelcalledWheetagoWarwhichcon-nectsbacktotheapocalyptictalesthatopenhislatestshortstorycollectionGodlessbutLoyaltoHeaven.Withthoseprojectsandmoreinvolvinglmsandwrit-ers-in-residenceprogramsun-derwayVanCampisasbusyaseverbutsayshesnolon-gerinamaddashforsuccess.OneofthethingsaboutthelastfewyearsisIvebeensoblessedwithTheLesserBlessedandGodlessbutLoyaltoHeavenandLittleYouandallthetranslationsandwhatImdoingattheageof41isImactuallygivingmyselfper-missiontojusttakeiteasyhesaid.ImnotinarushtosellNightMovesifmypublisherwantsitfor2015thatsne.ThesedaysVanCampismoreexcitedabouthelpingothersespeciallyNorthern-erslaunchtheirowncareers.TwentyyearsagoIwassohungrytogetmyvoiceoutandndingmywayintheworldVanCampcelebratesinnocencewithnewbabybookNWTLiteracyCouncilgivingaway1000copiesofLittleYouandnowat41myfocusnowismoreonmentoring-thatswhatmakesmehappy-forliteraturethatisgoingtoim-pactourcommunitiesintheNorthwestTerritories.Thatismygreatestprideandjoyrightnow.AthousandcopiesofLittleYouarriveattheNWTLiteracyCouncilofficereadytobedistributedtobabiesacrosstheterritory.LittleYouisRichardVanCampsthirdbabybook.PhotoRichardVanCampPhotocourtesyofOrcaBookPublishers