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WELCOME TO

FAIYA TAIGA™!

LEARN ABOUT FIRE SAFETY & HEALTH

Faiya Taiga says,

“Mek wi kip faiya sayf, frenli, ahn helti fi aal.”

“Let’s keep fire safe, friendly, and healthy for all.”

Come read all about Faiya Taiga!

How Taiga Became Faiya Taiga

Story 1

How Taiga Became Faiya Taiga

Taiga doesn't like her fur color; she feels different and ugly. Taiga, her brother, and her mom live in the forest. One night, they come across farmers burning their fields. The fire escapes and starts to burn the forest. Taiga is separated from her family, and has to save herself from the fire. She finds a cave and hides in it. When the smoke clears, she finds the world she knew destroyed and blackened. Taiga calls to Fire and asks, "Why?" Fire answers Taiga, and tells her that fire loves to burn everything and needs to be controlled. Fire designates Taiga as "Faiya Taiga," with her mission to teach humans how to control fire. Taiga questions her abilities as a leader and teacher. She reunites with her family, and her mom tells Taiga that she is capable - this is her destiny. Taiga accepts her new role. She now admires her coat and who she is.

What Monkey, Manatee, Macaw, and Tapir Teach Faiya Taiga

Story 2

What Monkey, Macaw, and Tapir Teach Faiya Taiga

Faiya Taiga decides to learn how the other animals deal with fire and what happens to them. She travels the great Maya Forest to protected areas: Shipstern Conservation and Management Area, the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Chiquibul Ecosystem (Forest Reserve and National Park). She learns about the dangers and devastation of fire to animal homes and the natural environment. Animals urge Faiya Taiga to teach humans to care for the earth. Animal elders say their habitats are shrinking, and the climate is not the same as in past years. Faiya Taiga is guided to talk directly with the greatest elder, Mother Nature, about the “big picture” and the history of humans and fire.

Faiya Taiga Meets Mother Nature

Story 3

Faiya Taiga Meets Mother Nature

Faiya Taiga goes to talk with Mother Nature, who says that she has turned her responsibility for Earth over to humans. Mother Nature shows Faiya Taiga how humans are not doing well with this new responsibility, and how the climate and Earth have changed. She teaches Faiya Taiga facts about recent climate changes in Belize that have contributed to fires. She shares stories that when humans stop polluting and invasive activities, the environment can heal itself, as shown during COVID-19. Mother Nature says humans have solutions - they know what works and they ARE capable. Faiya Taiga just needs to remind them of this and inspire humans to be responsible!

Faiya Taiga Explores Fire-wise Farming

Story 4

Faiya Taiga Explores Fire-wise Farming

Faiya Taiga explores what works and what doesn't work with fire. She learns from a young girl and her Maya grandfather about their milpa system of farming, how it used to be with the predicted rains, and how it is now with the dry, hot seasons of climate change. Faiya Taiga talks with Mennonite farmers, learning about cattle, chicken, and crop farming. She learns about forestry, wood production, and hydroelectric dams. She begins to understand the complexity of land use by humans, how fires can be prevented in these industries, and the human psychology around disaster risk management.

Faiya Taiga Teaches One Health

Story 5

Faiya Taiga Teaches One Health

Faiya Taiga learns of the concepts of One Health, an approach that aims to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. She gathers solutions from many sources and urges people to work together in partnership with each other and with the environment. She teaches humans to value Nature not just for business profits, but also for its innate values and spiritual healing. Humans are to be environmental stewards and care for a healthy Earth. Humans respond by collaborating together to increase the fire training of residents, secure needed fire equipment, build new fire substations, and protect wild lands. Faiya Taiga preaches to love thy neighbors: people, animals, and plants. She helps to start community Faiya Taiga Youth Clubs and projects.

Faiya Taiga's Fire Poem

Story 6

Faiya Taiga's Fire Poem

This book is written for younger readers. It is a poem with rhyming couplets on each 2-page spread. It highlights the bad and good of fire, and instructs "dos" and "don'ts" around fire. Faiya Taiga tells children to share these lessons with their friends. Each page has a colorful, simple illustration of the sentence it supports. Children and teachers are encouraged to be inspired by this book to develop projects around fire safety. Be your own fire s/hero!

How To Buy The Books

1. In Belize

Directly from Author

Gail Lash

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +501 675-9595

2. Global

Amazon Worldwide

Paperback & Kindle

Website: amazon.com/author/gail-lash

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

Albert Einstein