Chief Swamp
Chief Jake Swamp, the author of Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message passed away yesterday. I met Chief Swamp fifteen years ago at a reading he did at Barnes & Noble near Lincoln Center. He was reading Giving Thanks to a packed storytime crowd of children and their parents. When the Chief recited his good morning message, everyone within earshot stopped in their tracks and listened. With his powerful voice and enormous presence, Chief Swamp had us all completely mesmerized.
The Chief will be missed, but his book will live on and honor his memory. Children will read Giving Thanks for years to come because its message of respect for nature and offering everyday thanks to the earth is timeless. It is a message that should act as a reminder to everyone never to take nature’s gifts for granted. This is a sad day. Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
