The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer Book

A contemporary adaptation of an indigenous Huichol teaching tale, illustrated with traditional yarn drawings by Huichol artisans

• Shares the hidden treasures of a nature-based indigenous culture

• A teaching tool for multicultural studies for children ages 6 to 9

• Explains who the Huichol people are and the symbolism of the images used by the artists

The Huichol Indians live in the remote regions of the Sierra Madre Mountains of western Mexico, where geographic isolation has allowed them to retain their culture and spiritual traditions in the face of colonization. Their nature-based way of life makes no distinction between the sacred and the secular, and they express their reverence for the powers of the earth by regarding all elements in nature as family.

The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer is a modern adaptation of a traditional Huichol story depicting a young child finding his (or her) personal task in life by connecting with the powers of nature. The story is told through the experiences of young Tunuri, who becomes lost in the woods. He meets the magical Blue Deer--a messenger between the worlds of mortals and deities--who introduces Tunuri to Father Sun, Mother Earth, and others in the natural world, while leading him back to his human family. Through this lovely tale and the vivid illustrations done in the medium of traditional Huichol yarn drawings, children can learn about their place in the sacred web of life.

James Endredy, author of Earthwalks for Body and Spirit, has been an honored guest of the Huichol since 1986 and is actively working toward the protection of their traditional culture and sacred sites. Dedicated to reconnecting ­people with the spirit of nature, he presents workshops and classes in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He lives in Pennsylvania. Maria Hernandez De La Cruz lives in a small village within the San Andreas ceremonial center in the Huichol Sierra. A highly accomplished artist, she began making yarn drawings as a child. Long before starting work on this book, she had a dream vision of Tunuri while on a pilgrimage to the sacred desert of Wirikuta--and thus was not at all surprised when asked to illustrate this story. Casimiro De La Cruz Lopez comes from a village near the ceremonial center of Santa Catarina in the Huichol Sierra, where he spends much of his time helping his father, who has been the elected spiritual leader of their community for many years. While doing much of the yarn work for this story alongside María, Casimiro was also instrumental in translating the author’s and Maria’s visions into two-dimensional images.

Claudia Mills - Children's Literature

When young Tunuri becomes separated from his family during their pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of the Huichol people, he is not left alone, for an enchanted Blue Deer guides him to meet his other family: Father Sun, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Mother Earth, and Grandfather Fire (who lives in all the stars in the sky). Tunuri is then reunited with his human family and instructed to share with them, and with his people, all that he has learned about their relationship with the world of nature. Endredy relates this traditional tale of Mexico's Huichol Indians in clear, graceful prose that succeeds in communicating the message (as summarized in the closing author's note), that "Despite all our differences in lifestyle, we all share the same Sun, Earth, Air and Water, which means we are all connected in this sacred web of life." But it is the stunning yarn drawings by two Huichol artists that are the heart of this amazingly beautiful book, each one produced in a laborious, meticulous technique of pressing brightly colored yarn onto a board spread with beeswax. Holding the book in one's hands is like visiting a museum storing treasure after treasure of Huichol artistry: each picture is a joyful, vibrant feast for the eyes. This is a wonderful collaborative celebration of a threatened culture. 2003, Bear Cub Books, Ages 6 to 9.