As I Enfold You in Petals (The Spirit of Denendeh)

Newly sober, Curtis searches for healing in the ancient cultural practices of his Tlicho Dene grandfather. But will the Little People answer his call?

Curtis has just returned to Fort Smith, six weeks sober, but struggles to stay on track—his mom is still drinking, he has no sober friends, and his best friend (and secret crush) Lacey likely does too. Despite this, he’s determined to stay sober and help his people, hoping he might also find a way to help himself.

His late grandfather Louis was a legendary healer who supposedly made a deal with the Little People, granting him healing powers. No one has seen the Little People since Louis died, but his old cabin may hold the key to bringing them back. The only problem is that the cabin now belongs to Benny the Bank, an infamous bootlegger who has profited from Fort Smith’s pain for decades. Benny is now critically wounded and running out of time, poisoned and close to death.

The story follows Curtis as he tries to convince Benny to return the cabin, while also wondering if the Little People will answer his call. Meanwhile, Benny faces his own reckoning—can he make amends and leave behind a legacy he can be proud of? This fast-paced graphic novel weaves together themes of sobriety, healing, Indigenous spirituality, and redemption.