Elementary Resources
Christy Jordan- Fenton, Margaret Pokiak- Fenton
When I Was Eight
The short story When I was Eight, written by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton (2013), is a story about a young Indigenous girl leaving her family to learn English at a residential school. The book is told from a first-person perspective. this story is based on the actual experiences of Pokiak-Fenton, an Indigenous woman who herself experienced residential schooling in northern Canada. As it is a personal account, it holds great truth from an Indigenous perspective and accurately describes a residential school experience (Schissel & Wotherspoon, 2003).
Christy Jordan- Fenton, Margaret Pokiak- Fenton
Not My Girl
This is the follow-up story to “When I Was Eight”. It is the story of Olemaun’s painful return home to her village and family. How she had changed while she was away at school and the changes that occurred in her community. How she will then deal with the fracturing of her worldview (Liitle Bear, 200). This story will provide students with more context and will further inform them of the great pain and loss caused by residential schools.
Nicola I. Cambell
A Day With Yayah
This book explores Indigenous ways of knowing through a day spent with Yayah (grandma). She is teaching her grandchildren the knowledge that she has through experience and storytelling (little Bear, 2000). This knowledge is based on respecting the land, plant uses and traditional medicine. The Nłeʔkepmxcín language of the Thomson River Salish people features strongly in this book showing the importance of language in culture.
Dallas Hunt
Awasis and the World-Famous Bannock
Dallas is a member of the Cree nation, this book is about a young girl who is tasked with taking bannock from her grandma to a relative and loses it, along the way she meets forest animals (other relations) that help her get the ingredients to make more. The animals are all there to help which is reminiscent of Indigenous community, as well as the connection between all the relations (Little Bear, 2000). The Cree language is prominent and there is a language guide included at the end of the book.
David A. Robertson
When We Were Alone
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
Narrated in a gentle way that children can understand, you’ll read about when the girl’s grandma (Nókom) had to live at a boarding school where her culture wasn’t permitted. Which is why, she tells her granddaughter, the grandmother chooses to wear so many colors, have long hair, speak Cree, and spend so much time with her family. Beautifully illustrated, this story shares information in a way that is truthful about the past yet focused on the present. It’s also a celebration of curiosity and a grandparent-grandchild relationship (Taylor, n.d.).
Julie Flett
Wild Berries
Grandma and Clarence have a tradition of picking berries together. “Grandma likes sweet / blueberries / ininimina, / soft blueberries, juicy blueberries. Clarence likes big blueberries, sour blueberries, blueberries that go POP in his mouth.” In nature, the two notice many things — an ant that tickles up Clarence’s leg, a fox, a spider, and birds. Many Cree words, part of the Algonquiana language family, are included throughout this sweet slice-of-life story about a grandma and boy. I love the simplicity of the text as well as the many sound words that give this book a sensory atmosphere (Taylor, n.d.).
Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
We Are Grateful Ostaliheliga
Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude,” begins this celebration of the seasons, traditions, and family. As the families spend time outdoors and indoors, you’ll notice how gratitude encompasses all aspects of life from enjoying a feast for the Cherokee New Year to elder’s sharing stories to kids making corn-husk dolls to even saying goodbye to soldiers serving our country. Each season is written in English and in Cherokee. The pictures are vibrant and colorful. It’s a lovely book honoring Cherokee culture (Taylor, n.d).
Cynthia Leitch Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Jingle Dancer
A modern-day story about a girl named Jenna who wants to have a jingle dress and dance in the powwow just like her Grandma Wolfe. Jenna borrows rows of jingles for her Grandma and three other women dancers which, when she dances, makes her proud to continue their legacy. Readers will notice the traditional powwow dance sharing space with a modern life (Taylor, n.d.)
Richard Van Camp, illustrated by George Littlechild
What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
Few children’s authors can tackle the dark humour of being a mixed-blood Indigenous kid, but Van Camp does it in What's The Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? with buckaroo grit and poetic spirit in this funny, magnificently illustrated piece that has sparked many a conversation in our home (Mills, 2017).
David Bouchard and Ron Henry Vickers
The Elders Are Watching
Recommended for grades K to 4
With gorgeous artwork and lyrical storytelling (both done by Vickers), The Elders Are Watching is a powerful and stunningly beautiful way to impact little minds on the importance of the environment and respecting the wisdom and knowledge passed onto them from elders (Mills, 2017).
Chad Solomon
Rabbit and Bear Paws: Sacred Seven
You can get the entire set of seven books on the Seven Grandfather teachings: courage, honesty, humility, love, respect, truth and wisdom. Or simply start out with one of my favorites, Respect, and take your kids on a journey with two brothers and their friend as they (humorously) learn the true meaning of these traditional values by copying the actions of each book’s featured animal or bird. The result is seven fun-filled stories as the three friends learn something about the natural world and important lessons along the way (Mills, 2017).
Allan Syliboy
The Thunder-maker
The Thundermaker was born from Mi’kmaw artist Syliboy’s spectacular mixed-media exhibit with the same name. Big Thunder shares the traditional teaching of making thunder and passes on this responsibility to his son, Little Thunder, to continue to provide for their people (Mills, 2017).