Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment, is a new book release from Greystone Books, a division of Douglas & McIntyre. This animated version of Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ (www.mny.ca) illustrations tells the hummingbird’s story of doing what it can. Environmental activists from the world over have adopted the parable to convey their own message. It also inspired Greystone Books to do what we can to help the environment. Find out more about what we did at greystonebooks.com.
Duration : 0:2:25
[youtube Vi5u7A9DRAc]
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
excellent message, …
excellent message, ja Haw’aa
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Charming, smooth …
Charming, smooth animation. Absolutely lovely. And excellent pronunciation on the Haida words!
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
=’]
=’]
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
plz watch and rate …
plz watch and rate my videos!!! thx
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
beautiful and …
beautiful and inspiring
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
good message to …
good message to every1!!
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
lol thats funny XD
lol thats funny XD
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Like the animation, …
Like the animation,
hate the narration.
Needs a less harsh pitch in the voice,
especially with that choice of music.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I agree completely. …
I agree completely. It’s false to assume that tradition is static and unchanging – The world we live in is characterized by change and all cultures are a testament to this. From the first Lakota to ride a horse to the first white man to eat corn on the cob, humanity is in a constant flux.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
There are …
There are definitely a number of issues around this type of art adaptation.
Regardless, I am happy to have seen it.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Symbols and themes …
Symbols and themes are reinterpreted over time by all people, traditions grow and things evolve. Rather than somehow cheapening the Haida artistic tradition Haida manga is a testament to its being vibrancy, to the fact that Haida sociey isn’t a living fossil, but something that can respond in its own, unique way to new influences and contribute meaningfully to the world through new media.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
This is a wrong …
This is a wrong turn for Haida Art. i find it offensive to the people who are actually doing the traditional art. so please no more “Haida Manga” and if you are try to do art how we would as “Haidas”.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I guess the fire …
I guess the fire sort of represents the modern forestry corporations these days.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Furthermore, let’s …
Furthermore, let’s apply your reaction to the word elsewhere. Suppose one has never seen a Sub-Saharan African person before and had no idea they existed. That person meets someone who is African, and remarks, “his black skin is ridiculous looking”. Would that not be ignorant? Differences in skin color, like differences in language, are the result of countless generations of natural development.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
“I am well aware of …
“I am well aware of what the ‘name is’ and ‘what it means’”
No, you’re not. In your first comment you had no idea what the word was. You thought it ended with an “m” sound.
If you think the word sounding funny is “universal”, you must not have enough experience in the realm of linguistics. God forbid you hear languages like Malagasy, Mongolian, or any number of other Native American, African, or Australian Aboriginal languages and how foreign they sound to the English ear.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I am not arguing …
I am not arguing over the roots or meaning of the word, I am arguing on the basis that the word, regardless of its meaning, is a poor choice in this particular adaptation of the story.
With that in mind, I think I have made my PERSONAL stance clear on the usage of the word “dukdukdiya.” And essentially, that’s all that matters because we were arguing about whether or not this is a matter of OPINION or ignorance.
Now please, consider suicide and I hope your mother dies of cancer.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
In the case of this …
In the case of this particular story, what remains “universal,” as I mentioned in my previous comment, is the way a certain word sounds to the ear (especially when amplified such as in this context).
Given the Haida language and English share no common ancestry as languages and their pronunciation keys share relatively NO similarities – naming the hummingbird “dukdukdiya” for THIS PARTICULAR ADAPTATION OF THE STORY is a poor choice.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Furthermore, this …
Furthermore, this story is supposed to an adaptation for English speakers and listeners, not listeners of the Haida language. Of course there are cases where words of other languages can be employed effectively; but in the case of “dukdukdiya,” the sound and pronunciation of the word is simply too alien and out of tune with respect to its linguistic context.
When it comes down to it, regardless of what meaning a word may hold – there are certain things that remain universal.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I am well aware of …
I am well aware of what the “name is” and “what it means,” but that doesn’t change the fact that I have the right to believe that it’s a poor choice for this particular version of the story.
This story is being told in English and all of the other animals were referred to by their English names; therefore, “dukdukdiya” is a poor choice of name that could only detract from the impact.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Okay, I accept your …
Okay, I accept your challenge.
You said:
“What a stupid name for the hummingbird”.
The story is from a Haida artist. In the Haida language, “dukdukdiya” is the word for hummingbird. You don’t even know what the name is or what it means, and yet you judge it because it sounds strange to your ears. That’s the definition of ignorance.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Yes, and how am I …
Yes, and how am I being blatantly ignorant at all? I challenge you to quote me and point out anything that may have given you the impression that I am ignorant in any way.
I am confident you will find nothing significant; there is simply nothing you can hold against me except the fact that we disagree.
Buddy, there’s a huge difference between being able to flame someone because they’re genuinely wrong and simply because your opinion differs from theirs on an entirely subjective matter.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
No, it’s Haida …
No, it’s Haida Manga. Just like dry ice is different from ice.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Yes, there’s a huge …
Yes, there’s a huge difference between “having an opinion” and blatant ignorance.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa …
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa its so sad
plus wats up with that name lol i kept laughing each time lol
May 8th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
It’s haida manga. …
It’s haida manga. Just as manga is Japan’s reinterpretation of Western cartoon traditions, this is the same for the Haida Nation.
Japanfreaks FTL