aboriginal picture books - school district 71 comox valley · aboriginal picture books ......

Aboriginal Picture Books Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Fraser Bear: A Cub’s Life by Maggie de Vries; illus. by Renne Benoit Follows two black bear cubs, Fraser and his sister Samantha — named by a biologist’s daughter — as they crow up and learn how to search for food, and the Pacific salmon who will one day return to the Fraser River where they hunt.

Eagle Boy: A Pacific Northwest Native Tale retold by Richard Lee Vaughn; illus. by Lee Christiansen A native boy’s friendship with eagles ultimately saves his village in the Pacific Northwest from starvation.

I Am Raven: A Story of Discovery by David Bouchard and Andy Everon “Some will tell you that your totem is something you were in a previous life or something you might become in the next. That might be true. Others will tell you that your to-tem is the source of your strengths and weaknesses. This I believe to be true. Understanding my totem helps me to understand myself. And when I come to know someone else's totem, it helps me better understand that person. “

Buffalo Dreams by Kim Doner Having traveled with her family to see a newly born white buffalo, and give her gifts, Sarah Bearpaw experiences a mag-ical moment with the special calf. In-cludes a legend of the white buffalo and directions for making a dream catcher.


Secret of the Dance by Andrea Spalding In 1935, a nine year old boy's family held a forbidden Potlatch in fara-way Kingcorne inlet. Watl'kina slipped from his bed, and watched in the Big House as masked figures danced by firelight to the beat of the drum. The picture book Secret of the Dance is a fictionalized version of a real incident in the childhood of Kwakwa'ka'wakw elder, judge Al-fred Scow. In 1885, the government passed a law forbidding Aboriginal people to practice their ceremonials. Canada's Potlatch law was finally repealed in 1951.

Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis In the storm-tossed seas along the rugged Northwest Coast, a Native boy is thrown from his canoe into a great mystery, that follows the rich mythic traditions of the Native cultures of this area.

Frog Girl by Paul Owen Lewis When the frogs suddenly vanish from a lake behind a village on the Northwest coast, a nearby volcano awakens and a Na-tive girl is called to a dangerous adventure. Follows the rich mythic traditions of the Haida, Tlingit, and other Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast.

The Elders Are Watching by David Bouchard; illus. by Roy Henry Vickers. As Native elders have advised from time immemorial, this is a gentle plea to respect the natural environment.

Solomon’s Tree by Andrea Spalding; illus. by Janet Wil-son

Solomon’s special maple tree falls in a storm, but his un-cle helps him carve a mask to show the spirit of the tree forever.


Totem Tale: A Tall Story from Alaska by Deb Vanasse; illus. by Erik Brooks The wooden animals in a totem pole spring to life one night and fall into an argument over what order in which to stack themselves again.

Sharing Our World: Animals of the Native North-west Coast by Ian Reid The images and text in this book are the work of First Nations and Native artists from communities through-out the Pacific Northwest. Through their art and words, each artist has shared the importance of their personal and cultural relationship to the natural world.

Lessons from Mother Earth by Elaine McLeod Tess has visited her grandmother many times without really being aware of the garden. But today they step outside the door and Tess learns that all of nature can be a garden. And if you take care of the plants that are growing, if you learn about them — understanding when they flower, when they give fruit, and when to leave them alone — you will always find something to nourish you. At the end of their day Tess is thankful to Mother Earth for having such a lovely garden, and she is thankful to have such a

Cloudwalker by Roy Henry Vickers In this legend, a Gitksan Indian hunter tries to catch a group of swans and is carried away by the birds and dropped on the clouds. He wanders with a cedar box of water and spills the contents and when he returns to earth he finds lakes and rivers which weren't there before.

Fox on the Ice by Thompson Highway

One winter afternoon, Joe and Cody went ice fishing with their papa, their mama, and Cody's little black dog, Ootsie. It was the perfect day to fish. The sky was clear, and the sun made the snow sparkle like diamonds. Brothers Joe and Cody are spending a chilly winter afternoon ice fishing with their parents. Cody is helping Papa fish, while Mama and Joe doze in the sled. Suddenly the sled dogs sit up and sniff. A fox is across the lake, her fur as bright as flames. The sled dogs give chase, pulling Mama and Joe along on a wild ride.


Red Parka Mary by Peter Eyvindson In this story a seven-year-old Native boy narrates his experiences with an elderly neighbour. Someone had told the boy to be afraid of this Elder. But one day while passing her home, the woman named Mary calls to the boy and gives him a pail filled with chokecherries for his mother. Slowly the boy comes to understand Mary, visits her often, and begins to learn traditional activities during their visits. With Christmas approaching, the boy decides to give Mary a gift (with the help of his parents). At a local store he finds a wonderful red parka that will be sure to keep Mary warm in the winter. Mary tells the boy he must guess what his gift will be. She gives him a hint that it is the biggest and best present in the world. The boy guesses a castle, Buckingham Palace, and gold. Then Mary gives him a tiny box with a single red heart-shaped bead. Mary explains that the bead represents all the love she can give. This is a charming, warm-hearted Christmas story about intergenerational friendship. The text is accompanied by colour illustrations that capture the essence of the story with gentle humour. This story offers valuable lessons about acceptance, and how appearances can deceive.

Little Bears Vision Quest by Diane Silvey A full colour story book that teaches respect for others. The paintings were done by Joe Silvey (Salish). The book deals with name calling, initially showing the main character, Little Bear, as selfish and inconsiderate of others feelings. The book is a modern First Nations legend applying the traditional method of using stories as a teaching tool. Little Bear learns to value the traditions of his ancestors and through the daily ritual of cleansing himself becomes in tune with nature. The book can be used by teachers, parents and other caring adults to teach children the value of respect. Discussion questions are included for parents and teachers.

Gray Wolf’s Search by Bruce Swanson In this wonderful original tale, a young boy is told by his uncle, the village shaman, that his role in their clan and tribe depends on his finding and getting to know a very important person. Gray Wolf jour-neys through the woods and seashore around his home and through the seasons for a full year in the course of his search. Through conversations with his brothers and sisters in the woods and waters—Bear, Eagle, Whale, Beaver, Owl and Wolf—Gray Wolf makes a wonderful discovery about the value of each and every one of us.

Encounter by Jane Yolen When Christopher Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador in 1492, what he discovered were the Taino Indians. Told from a young Taino boy’s point of view, this is a story of how the boy tried to warn his people against welcoming the strangers, who seemed more interested in golden ornaments than friendship. Years later the boy, now an old man, looks back at the destruction of his people and their culture by the colonizers.

Caribou Song by Thompson Highway

Joe and Cody are young Cree brothers who follow the caribou all year long, tucked into their dog sled with Mama and Papa. To entice the wandering herds, Joe plays his accordion and Cody dances, whirling like a young cari-bou.They are so busy playing and dancing, they don't hear the rumble of the caribou. Bursting from the forest, ten thousand animals fill the meadow. Joe is engulfed; he can barely see Cody a few yards away. Their parents seem to have disappeared. And yet what should be a moment of terror turns into something mystical and magical, as the boys open their arms and their hearts to embrace the caribou spirit.


I Was Born Precious and Sacred by Debora Abood I Was Born Precious And Sacred, which recounts with simple language and poignant photographs the ancestral teachings about the sanctity of each and every Little Person born into our communities. The simple words of this read-aloud book echo the timeless truth that every aspect of our children are sacred and valuable, and that each of us must work to preserve their minds, bodies, spirits, and hearts.

A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp, illus. by George Littlechild When Chris and Toby Greyeyes find a raven in the garage, they try to trap it and hurt it with hockey sticks. To them, ravens are just a nuisance because they spread garbage all over the street. Or so they think—until a mysterious man who smells like pine needles enters their lives and teaches them his story of the raven.

This Land is My Land by George Littlechild Through his own words and paintings, acclaimed Native artist George Littlechild takes us back in time to the first meeting between his Plains Cree ancestors and the first European settlers in North America. In This Land Is My Land, George intimately and honestly shares with readers how he discovered his Native heritage and what it means to him. He recounts the history of his people and expresses his wish to use his art to portray the wonders of his heritage, and to heal the pain of his people's history.

What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? By Richard Van Camp, illustrated by George Littlechild

Author Richard Van Camp has always been curious about horses. He is a member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation, a Native North American tribe that uses dogs instead of horses, because it's too cold for them up in Canada! One wintry day, he decides to do some investigating. Our friendly guide invites us to accompany him on his playful search for the most beautiful thing about horses. He asks his family, his friends, and even the artist, George Littlechild, what is the most beautiful thing they know about horses. The answers he gets range from zany to profound, and show him that even seemingly ordinary things can be seen in entirely new ways.

Coyote’s new Suit by Thomas King Inspired by the rich folklore of Native cultures, "Coyote's New Suit" offers a wise, witty, & entertain-ing look at the consequences of wanting more than you need.


B is for Basketball by students and teachers of Haida Gwaii This is the official book of the 2011 All Native Basketball Tournament. These games have been held in Prince Rupert, BC for over 50 years and have become an important cultural gathering.

Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault In this poignant story, the counting rope is a metaphor for the passage of time and for a boy's emerging confidence in facing his blindness.

Ancient Thunder by Leo Yerxa Leo Yerxa, an artist of Ojibway ancestry, brings us this visionary, beautiful art book in which he celebrates wild horses and the natural world in which they lived in harmony. Using an extraordinary technique he makes paper look like leather so that his illustrations seem to be painted on leather shirts. Each unique leather shirt is laid on a page and is accompanied by a rich, wild, free song of praise for the wild horses that came to play such an important role in the lives of the First Peoples.

Morning On The Lake by Jan Bourdeau Waboose In the first of three linked stories, a young boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Together, they discover the peaceful beauty of the lake. In the second story, the sun rises high in the summer sky as they climb a rocky cliff for a bird's-eye view of the land. And, finally, as an autumn night descends, they venture into the woods. Under the patient and gentle guidance of his grandfather, the boy gradually comes to respect the ways of nature and to understand his own place in the world.

The Moccasins by Earl Einarson This is an endearing story of a young Aboriginal foster child who is given a special gift by his foster mother. Her gift of warmth and thoughtfulness helps her young foster children by encouraging self-esteem, acceptance and love. Written as a simple story, it speaks of a positive foster experience.


Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.

I’m In Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall From the highly acclaimed team of Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall comes the story of a girl who shares her love for desert life as she tells of treasured experiences like dancing in the wind on Dust Devil Day or sleeping outside on a hot summer night during The Time of the Falling Stars. Baylor's radiant prose-poem and Parnall's exquisite illustrations combine to create a joyous celebration of the human spirit.

Jason and The Sea Otter by Joe Barber-Starkey In this contemporary tale, Jason discovers the return of the sea otter to his West Coast village. One day, while fishing in his dugout canoe, Jason sees a dark furry head with black eyes and a grey whiskery muz-zle bobbing among the weeds. Fascinated, he spends many hours with his canoe tied to the kelp bed, watching the sea otter. One day Jason leans too far over in his canoe and falls into the water. The canoe has come loose from where he tied it and, and a strong current is carrying it away from him. But something prevents the canoe from drifting away.

Jason’s New Dugout Canoe by Joe Barber-Starkey This delightful story of a Nuu-chah-nulth boy explores First Nations traditions and values through the making of a canoe. Jason's first canoe is crushed during a storm, and he must replace it. Through Uncle Silas, he learns the traditional methods of canoe building - plus scores of stories and legends about his heritage. In an entertaining way, Jason's New Dugout Canoe also teaches the important lesson of patience, plus respect and reverence for nature and all its creatures. The story is packed with stunning, full-colour illustrations by Paul Montpellier, which one reviewer has described as "wonderfully clear and detailed, capturing both closeness to nature and a sense of continuity of Native tradition."

The Wave of The Sea Wolf by David Wisniewski Tlingit princess Kchokeen, who is rescued from drowning by a guardian spirit that later enables her to summon a great wave and save her people from hostile strangers. Ethnic representation of the characters is convincing, but most remarkable of all is the use of native Northwest design motifs. . . . A lengthy endnote discuss-es the history and legend - and the contemporary message - be-hind Wisniewski's entertaining and instructive creation." School Library Journal "


Orca Chief by Roy Henry Vickers In this legend, hunters in the village of Kitkatla leave home in the spring to harvest seaweed and sockeye. When they arrive at their fishing grounds, exhaustion makes them lazy and they throw their anchor overboard without care for the damage it might do to marine life or the sea floor. When Orca Chief discovers what the hunters have done he sends his most powerful orca warriors to bring the men and their boat to his house. The men beg forgiveness for their ignorance and lack of respect and Orca Chief compassionately sends them out with his pod to show them.

A Coyote Columbus Story by Thomas King A retelling of the Christopher Columbus story from a Native point of view turns this tale on its ear! Coyote, the trickster, creates the world and all the creatures in it. She is able to control all events to her advantage until a funny-looking red-haired man named Columbus changes her plans. He is unimpressed by the wealth of moose, turtles and beavers in Coyote’s land. Instead he is interested in the human beings he can take to sell in Spain.

The Canoe He Called Loo Taas by Amanda Reid Stevens Loo Taas is a testament of our ancestors' engineering geni-us that serves as a significant symbol for the spirit of to-day's Haida people. She is more than a canoe. She's a na-tional treasure, a modern marvel of supernatural knowledge, and a vehicle of the living Haida culture, proudly displayed within the Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay

Mwakaw Talks to Loon by Dale Auger Kayâs is a young Cree man who is blessed with a Gift that makes him a talented hunter. He knows the ways of the Beings he hunts and can even talk with them in their own languages. But when he becomes proud and takes his abilities for granted, he loses his gift, and the People grow hungry. Mwâkwa Talks to the Loon introduces readers to the basics of life in a Cree village. A glossary with pronunciation guide to the many Cree words and phrases used in the story is included.

Draonfly’s Tale by Kristina Rodanas After a poor harvest two children regain the Corn Maidens' blessings for their people with the aid of a cornstalk toy, the dragonfly.


The Rough-Faced Girl by Rafe Martin In a village by the shores of Lake Ontario lived an invisible being. All the young women wanted to marry him because he was rich, powerful, and supposedly very handsom. But to marry the invisible being the women had to prove to his sister that they had seen him. And none had been able to get past the sister's stern, all-knowing gaze. Then came the Rough-Face girl, scarred from working by the fire. Could she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters had failed?

Jen and the Great One by Peter Eyvindson The story of a young girl and her special relationship with an old tree. Jen and her friends answer the old tree’s pleas for help.

Aboriginal Picture Books-Seasons Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

We Share the Seasons by Brenda Boreham and Terri Mack This book is about the changing seasons in and along a riverbank, from the mountains to the sea. You will see many plants and animals that live along a riverbank. They grow and change just as we do. A season is one of the four parts of the year: winter, spring, summer and fall. We all share and experience the changing of the seasons. Some changes we all make are small. Other changes are big. We all grow and change. What do you know about the seasons?

The Wish Wind by Peter Eyvindson All the best wishes can bring more than you expect. When a grumbling young boy is tested by the Wish Wind, he learns all his requests are granted. Will he understand the value of patience and youth before he is too late?

Solomon’s Tree by Andrea Spalding Solomon has a special friendship with the big old maple outside his house. He knows the tree in all seasons and all weathers. When a terrible storm tears it up by its roots, Solomon is devas-tated. But through the healing process of making a mask from part of the tree with his uncle, he learns that the cycle of life con-tinues and so does the friendship between himself and the tree.

Thirteen Moons on Turtles Back by Joseph Bruchac In Native American legend, the thirteen scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to the thirteen cycles of the moon and the changing seasons. These lyrical poems and striking paintings celebrate the wonder of the seasons, from the Northern Cheyenne's Moon of the Popping Trees to the Big Moon of the Abenaki.

Taan’s Moons by Alison Gear

“There’s a moon in the sky. It looks like a drum, which guides the earth where Taan is from.”So begins a year in the life of Taan, which means “bear” in the Haida Language.

Alison Gear has based this wonderfully engaging and thoughtful story on one version of the Haida Moon cycle. It follows Taan as she expe-riences the wonder of the unfolding seasons.

Good Morning World Artwork by Paul Windsor From the author: “The whole purpose of this book is to share the good energy coming from all the experiences I’ve had in the past, present and going into the future. There are days that are challenging, but it is important to carry on, improve one’s creativity, and learn to respect ourselves and the land we share.”

Goodnight World: Animals of the native Northwest Animals, birds, and sea creatures say good night by dreaming, singing each other to sleep and various activities unique to each animal. The whales hum softly as they float in the sea, while the beavers dream together in their lodge, and the owls watch carefully through the night. The final spread says goodnight to all the animals of the air, land.

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific North-west by Gerald McDermott Raven, the trickster, wants to give people the gift of light. But can he find out where Sky Chief keeps it? And if he does, will he be able to escape without being discovered? His dream seems impossible, but if any-one can find a way to bring light to the world, wise rave can.

How Raven Stole the Sun (Tales of the People) By Maria Williams

A long time ago, Raven was pure white, like fresh snow in winter. This was so long ago that the only light came from campfires, because a greedy chief kept the stars, moon, and sun locked up in elaborately carved boxes. Determined to free them, the shape-shifting Raven resourcefully transformed himself into the chief's baby grandson and cleverly tricked him into opening the boxes and releasing the starlight and moonlight. Though tired of being stuck in human form, Raven maintained his disguise until he got the chief to open the box with the sun and flood the world with daylight, at which point he gleefully transformed himself back into a raven.

Raven Brings the Light by Roy Henry Vickers & Robert Budd In a time when darkness covered the land, a boy named Weget is born who is destined to bring the light. With the gift of a raven's skin that allows him to fly as well as transform, Weget turns into a bird and journeys from Haida Gwaii into the sky. There he finds the Chief of the Heavens who keeps the light in a box. By trans-forming himself into a pine needle, clever Weget tricks the Chief and escapes with the daylight back down to Earth.

Aboriginal Picture Books- Astronomy

Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Aboriginal Picture Books-Astronomy Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Beneath Raven Moon: ba’naboy laxa gwa’wina ’makwala by David Bouchard; illus. by Andy Everson An enchanting tale of the creation of Grandmother Moon and of the first time she wove her spell on a young, unsuspecting couple. Raven and Eagle join together in good-natured conspiracy to foster a heart-warming romance.

Thirteen Moons on Turtles Back: A Native American Year of Moons by Joseph Bruchac Celebrates the seasons of the year through poems from the legends of such Native American tribes as the Cherokee, Cree, and Sioux.

Taan's Moons: A Haida Moon Story by Adrienne Gear A fascinating art-based picture book developed by Alison Gear (poetry) and Kiki van der Heiden (with the children of Haida Gwaii) In Haida language taan refers to the bear. The Haida peo-ple have a unique way of recording time according to the way the bear follows the seasons or months of the year. This particular method identifies 13 moons each relating to the habits of the bear. Alison Gear, a local writer and an early learning coordinator for this school district wrote a poem describing twelve moons as

The Star People: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson When Young Wolf and his older sister wander from their village and face the danger of a prairie fire, their deceased grandmother, now one of the Star People, appears to guide them.

Sky Sisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose Two Ojibway sisters set off across the frozen north country to see the SkySpirits' midnight dance. It isn't easy for the younger sister to be si-lent, but gradually she begins to treasure the stillness and the wonderful experiences it brings. After an exhilarating walk and patient waiting, the girls are rewarded by the arrival of the SkySpirits -- the northern lights -- dancing and shimmering in the night sky. This powerful story, with its stunning illustrations, captures the chill of a northern night, the warmth

Aboriginal Picture Books-Astronomy Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Mouse Celebrates the Winter Solstice by Terri Mack It is winter. The land lies still, quiet and stark beneath a blanket of snow. The tiny footprints of a mouse can be seen in the light of the moon. "Wrapped in the quiet, and there in the bleak, there stood a wise mouse, preparing to speak." The words that mouse chose were from many years past. She spoke them into the cold night air. So begins the enchanting story

Coyote and the Sky: How the Sun, Moon, and Stars Began by Emmett “Shkeme” Garcia A retelling of the Santa Ana Pueblo legend in which the Squirrel, the Rabbit, and the Badger are allowed by the animals' spirit leader to climb from their homes in the Third World to the Fourth World, while the Coyote must stay in the Third World.

How the Stars Fell into the Sky, A Nava-jo Legend by Jerrie Oughton

This retelling of a Navajo folktale explains how First Woman tried to write the laws of the land using stars in the sky, only to be thwarted by the trickster Coyote.

Aboriginal Picture Books—Salmon Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Dipnetting with Dad by Willie Sellars

BUMP, BUMP—SLAP, river sockeye salmon are pulled onto shore! Set in the

beautiful landscape of the Cariboo Chilcotin region, Dipnetting with Dad is a

delightful and colourful story of a father teaching his son the Secwepemc

method of fishing known as dipnetting. Together they visit the Sweat Lodge,

mend the nets, select the best fishing spot, and catch and pack their fish

through rugged bush back to the family home for traditional preparation.

P’eska and the First Salmon Ceremony by Scot Ritchie

It's the day of the first salmon ceremony, and P'esk'a is excited to celebrate. His community, the Sts'ailes people, give thanks to the river and the salmon it brings by commemorating the first salmon of the season.

Framed as an exploration of what life was like one thousand years ago, P'esk'a and the First Salmon Ceremony describes the customs of the Sts'ailes people, an indigenous group who have lived on the Harrison River in British Columbia for the last 10,000 years. Includes an introductory letter from Chief William Charlie, an illustrated afterword and a glossary.

A Salmon for Simon by Betty Waterton, Il-lustrated by Ann Blades Simon discovers that catching a salmon is more diffi-cult than it looks. A simple, touching and multi-award-winning story with evocative watercolor illustrations.

A Salmon’s Sky View by Carol McDougall A Salmon’s Sky View” began as the idea of using art to make reading fun and engaging. As a teacher and a parent of creative children, I imagined it would be great to finish reading a picture book and then to have the art directions to re-create the illustrations. I wanted kids to feel the joy of succeeding and expressing themselves.

Salmon Stream by Carol Reed-Jones A poetic yet accurate description of the life cycle of salmon. For kids, it is fun and eye-opening. For teachers, it is a valuable supplement to a unit on water, fish and ocean animals, and life cycles. Fast-paced prose and brilliant illustra-tions follow the salmon from their form as eggs in a stream to the wide ocean, eventually making a hazardous journey home to their stream of origin. Carol Reed-Jones uses cumulative verse--a literary technique that is not only enjoya-ble but suggests how interconnected salmon are with their habitat. At the back is a section on salmon facts and what makes a good habitat for them, teaching the basics of ecology and why clean streams and waters are so important.

Aboriginal Picture Books—Residential Schools

Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Shin-Chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell When they arrive at school, Shi-shi-etko reminds Shinchi, her six-year-old brother, that they can only use their English names and that they can't speak to each other. For Shinchi, life becomes an endless cycle of church mass, school, and work, punc-tuated by skimpy meals. He finds solace at the river, clutching a tiny cedar canoe, a gift from his father, and dreaming of the day when the salmon return to the river — a sign that it’s almost time to return home.

When I was Eight by Christie Jordan-Fenton

Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father’s warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders’ school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains undaunted. Her tenacity draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read.

Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.

Not My Girl by Christie Jordan-Fenton

Two years ago, Margaret left her Arctic home for the outsiders’ school. Now she has returned and can barely contain her excitement as she rushes towards her waiting fami-ly—but her mother stands still as a stone. This strange, skinny child, with her hair cropped short, can’t be her daughter. “Not my girl!” she says angrily.

Margaret’s years at school have changed her. Now ten years old, she has forgotten her language and the skills to hunt and fish. She can’t even stomach her mother’s food. Her only comfort is in the books she learned to read at school.

Amik loves School, A Story of Wisdom by Katherena Vermette Amik tells Moshoom about his wonderful school. Then his grandfather tells him about the residential school he went to, so different from Amik's school, so Amik has an idea... The Seven Teaching of the An-ishinaabe -- love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth -- are revealed in these seven stories for children. Set in an urban landscape with Indigenous children as the central characters, these stories about home and family will look familiar to all young readers.

Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell In just four days young Shi-shi-etko will have to leave her family and all that she knows to attend residential school.

She spends her last days at home treasuring the beauty of her world -- the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather's paddle song. Her mother, father and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. And so Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.

Aboriginal Picture Books-Arctic Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

My Arctic 1,2,3 by Michael Kusugak My Arctic 1, 2, 3 and explore Michael Kusugak’s world of animals and adventure in the Arctic Circle. On each two-page spread, discover counting and creatures, and learn who’s predator and who’s prey. Witness five Arctic foxes hunting six furry siksiks. Then watch seven fishermen catch eight Arctic char. Numbers explored include 1 to 10, 20, 100 and even 1,000,000 (millions of berries ripen in the fall). Each scene, rendered in Vladyana Krykorka’s breathtaking paintings, is awash in Arctic colors and includes the depicted number in English and Inuktitut.

We Feel Good Out Here by Julie Ann Andre In We Feel Good Out Here, Julie-Ann shares her family's story and the story of her land-Khaii luk, the place of winter fish. As Julie-Ann says, "The land has a story to tell, if you know how to listen. When I travel, the land tells me where my ancestors have been. It tells me where the animals have come and gone, and it tells me what the weather may be like tomorrow."

Her home is an important part of who Julie-Ann is. She wants to help make sure that her environment is healthy, so it can continue to tell its story to her children and their children.

Aurora A Tale of the Northern Lights by Mindy Dwyer In "Aurora" Alaskan storyteller and artist Mindy Dwyer has created a magical story of a young girl whose seeking and dreams lead her to a great discovery. The bright, luminous illustrations that accompany the story magically portray this tale of the origin of the Aurora Borealis, the glorious northern lights. Inspired by her northern home, Mindy Dwyer says: "Living in Alaska, it's natural for one to believe that an-cient magic dances in the shadows, the wind is enchanted, the old leg-ends are true and in nature".

T is for Territories By Michael Kusugak

In T is for Territories: A Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Alphabet, acclaimed storyteller Michael Kusugak gives an A-Z tour of Canada's three territories, the northern region of the country that is a giant in size, history, and culture. Young readers can kick up their heels at the Arctic Winter Games with sports such as the one-foot high-kick, listen to world-renowned storytellers at Whitehorse's International Storytelling Festival, or experience Wood Buffalo National Park where sometimes visitors have to stop and wait for wildlife to get out of the way. Everyone will enjoy this alphabetical journey that showcases the riches of the territories.

Berry Magic by Betty Huffmon Long ago, the only berries on the tundra were hard, tasteless, little crowberries. As Anana watches the ladies complain bitterly while picking berries for the Fall Festival, she decides to use her magic to help. ""Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsaukina!"" (Be a berry!), Anana sings under the full moon turning four dolls into little girls that run and tumble over the tundra creating patches of fat, juicy berries: blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, and raspber-ries. The next morning Anana and the ladies fill basket after basket

Aboriginal Picture Books - Arctic Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

Immi’s Gift by Karen Littlewood A beautifully illustrated story about the surprising gifts a child of the far frozen north receives from her fishing hole in the ice. Though her igloo is lonely and she longs for company, she decorates the ice walls with many small colorful bits of treasure that she finds with her fishing pole in the sea.

The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich A lonely old woman adopts, cares for, and raises a polar bear as if he were her own son, until jealous villagers threaten the bear's life, forcing him to leave his home and his mother," in a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale.

The Inuksuk Book by Mary Wallace An inuksuk is a stone structure that can communicate knowledge essen-tial for survival to an Arctic traveler. Inuksuit are found throughout the Arctic areas of Alaska, Arctic Canada, and Greenland. Mary Wallace, in consultation with Inuit elders and other noted experts, gives a fascinat-ing introduction in words, pictures, and paintings to the many forms of the inuksuk structure and its unique place in Inuit life and culture. Inuk-suit take on many forms, the most recognized being the inunnguaq (’like a person’), which is built in the shape of a human. Mary Wallace explains ten of the major types of inuksuit, while archival photographs and ex-quisite silk paintings bring these shapes to life. In telling the story of inuksuit, the story of those who dwell in the Arctic unfolds

Aboriginal Picture Books-Métis Compiled by Joan Pearce, Lynn Swift and Gail Martindale

The Diamond Willow Walking Stick by Leah Marie Dorion A traditional Metis story about generosity that focuses on a Metis Elder’s remembrances of traditional teachings about generosity taught to him by his grandparents during his childhood.

The Flower Beadwork People by Sherry Farrell Racette A vibrantly-illustrated social history of the Métis by artist Sherry Farrell Racette, this book was originally produced as a special project to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the 1885 Resistance. Complete with a glossary, it can be used as a class text, or a storybook. This book is also suitable for use

Peter Fidler and the Métis by Donna Lee Dumont An excellent primer on Métis history and culture for middle years readers. This book is the personal reflection of Métis artist and author Donna Lee Dumont on her direct ancestors, the Hudson’s Bay Company explorer and mapmaker Peter Fidler and his Cree wife, Mary Mackegonne. Formation of Métis cul-ture during the fur trade, the racism that forced many Metis to deny their heritage, and the proud place that the Métis now have as one of Canada’s founding peoples.

My First Métis Lobstick by Leah Marie Dorion Leah Marie Dorion’s My First Métis Lobstick takes young readers back to Canada’s fur trade era by focusing on a Métis family’s preparations for a lobstick celebration and feast in the boreal forest. Through the eyes of a young boy, we see how important lobstick making and ceremony was to the Métis community.

The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Metis Story by Leah Dorion Steeped in Metis culture, this story focuses on the boyhood reminisces of Moushoom as he describes find-ing the great giving tree with his mother and father. Emphasizes core beliefs of strength, kindness, cour-age, tolerance, honesty.

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