Strong Fox: How Fox Came to Help a Village Grow Stronger

Stan Cartwright and Edna Dixon

	Format	ISBN	Price
	Color (8.5x8.5)	9781449043766	$ 8.50

In the late 1700s a little red fox and the inhabitants of a small Muscogee Creek village share a pleasant mountain valley along the Flint River in west central Georgia. The story of Strong Fox is reminiscent of oral tradition stories told to Creek Indian children long ago. Such stories served to entertain while also teaching valuable lessons learned by observing and respecting the ways of animals. Fox has learned to survive by using his wits, and while hiding just outside the village awaiting opportunities to steal an easy meal, he has also learned something from observing People. Fox's surprising knowledge enables him to have a profound effect on one young boy and through him the entire village. As in the tradition of our ancestors, Strong Fox serves to entertain while inspiring children to face difficulties in their lives by focusing on their strengths, rather than their weaknesses.

Stan Cartwright has a M. Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling and serves as the Transition/Career Technology Coordinator for students with disabilities in the Meriwether County, Georgia school system. Over the years he has shared stories from his personal experiences, often using images of his Muscogee Creek heritage, to bring inspiration and encouragement to the students he serves. Also, known as Quiet Dog, Stan is a Vice Chief of the Perdido Bay Tribe of Southeastern Lower Muscogee Creek Indians, an organization dedicated to learning, honoring, and sharing the history and cultural life ways of the Creek Peoples of the Southeast and raising awareness of the many contributions they made to the fabric of Southern culture. Stan resides in Warm Springs, Georgia near his ancestral homeland.

Edna Dixon brings her experience and love of expressive writing to the task of working with long-time friend, Stan Cartwright, to craft a compelling story filled with images, detail and drama to capture the imaginations of young readers. As an adopted member of the Perdido Bay Tribe of Southeastern Lower Muscogee Creek Indians, Edna is dedicated to the work of honoring the Creek Indian role in the historical and cultural heritage of all Southerners. Known as Wordweaver among her tribal friends, Edna has served for many years as one-on-one correspondent to student researchers through Perdido Bay Tribe's online classroom. She also serves as web site writer/manager and grant writer for PBT's many educational outreach programs. Edna grew up in central Georgia and is now retired in rural east Tennessee.

Fox's intelligence had allowed him to outwit the dogs. At dusk he too, would make his way toward the small Muscogee Indian village in the meadow. There he would keep watch on the evening meals being prepared by the women. This was another survival trick Fox had learned. Knowing that the smoke of burning hickory and cooking meat would mask his scent from the watchful dogs, Fox could sneak into the village and snatch a bit of venison now and again without being noticed. Known to white people as Creeks (so named by the first European settlers because they lived along Southeastern rivers and streams), the Muscogee people relaxed in their village nestled in a pleasant valley near the upper Flint River. The people were visiting, laughing, and telling stories while the children played in the cool of the summer evening.