Honolulu, HI — On November 17 2015, Alessandra and Ignacio launched a Kickstarter campaign for A Colorful Journey, an illustrated book by Bear Medicine Publishing that promotes the preservation of nature and oral traditions.

The creators explain, “Our goal is to preserve traditional native languages as well as traditional stories, values and teachings that perpetuate positive self-awareness, health, well-being, environmental awareness and a greater understanding of value systems from around the world.”

A Colorful Journey is a 26 page children’s book with 12 vibrant, full page images. It’s an ancient Native American story passed down to Ignacio from his Kiowa Apache grandfather that has been adapted for Hawaii, where the creators live. Funding this project through Kickstarter will allow the team to publish their book and distribute 100 copies to under-served children in Hawaii – free of charge.

“Through publishing the stories and re-interpreting them for smaller audiences and different languages that need to have relevant material in the classrooms, we believe we can assist under-served communities in learning and keeping up with the larger general population,” said Co-founder and illustrator, Alessandra.

The story, geared for children ages 4 and above, tells of morals and values, promotes environmental awareness and conservation and helps children identify with and understand emotions. It imparts a way to see the world and the many colors, representations and things we can learn from our environment and people. It’s based on colors, here translated into Hawaiian, and what they can teach all of humanity. Eventually, it will be translated to Apache and include altered art and wording for relevance to that specific community.

Co-founder Ignacio shares, “It is our hope that through learning from those who live in relationship with the land, the ocean and the environment we can share in humanity’s common goals of living a bountiful life.”

In exchange for pledging to the project, backers can gain access to a variety of rewards including 3 signed bookmarks by the artist of A Colorful Journey for $5, one signed paperback copy of the book for $25 (along with three bookmarks and two postcards), and more. Backers can also pledge $100 for three bookmarks and two postcards, a 2016 calendar, three paperbacks and one 8.5” x 11” print – all signed by the artist!

For more information, please visit the Kickstarter page here or contact the creator below.

Contact information: 

Website: bearmedicinepublishing.org
Email: contact@bearmedicinepublishing.org