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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter
August 2015
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In this issue:
Children's Books: We All Count and Morning on the Lake
Oral Story: Why Bear Has a Short Tail
Indigenous Hero: William Commanda
Seven Grandfather Teachings: Courage
Smudging and Medicines: Tobacco
Indigenous Recipe: Candy Salmon
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We All Count by Julie Flett
We All Count is a bilingual number book written and illustrated by Julie Flett who is Cree/Métis. The languages used are Plains Cree (y-dialect) and Swampy Cree (n-dialect) written in Roman orthography. Julie Flett uses simple illustrations with bold, clear text to introduce counting with appropriate cultural images from contemporary Cree society.
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| Morning
on the Lake is told in three sections: morning, noon and night. A young
Ojibwe boy and his Mishoomis (grandfather) experience nature in an all
day journey that begins in the morning on a lake and ends with a walk in
the woods during the night. The events are told in the first person by
the young boy, Noshen (grandchild). Readers experience canoeing on a
lake in early morning, watching a family of loons, climbing rocks in the
afternoon, seeing an eagle fly past, and walking through a field of
sweetgrass. The final event takes place during the night. Mishoomis and
Noshen walk through the woods and come across a pack of timber wolves.
Each event is told in a straight-forward manner so that the reader
experiences the young boy's excitement and awe. Throughout the story,
the author makes passing references to Ojibwe culture and spirituality. (Excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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Did you know that bears once had long beautiful tails?
Watch this 4 1/2 minute video to hear Judi Montgomery share the legend of Why Bear Has a Short Tail.
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William Commanda was an Algonquin Elder whose life spanned almost 100 years. He was Band Chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation from 1951 to 1970 and awarded officer of the Order of Canada in 2008. His gifts were respected widely. They were also known personally by Algonquin Knowledge Keeper Judi Montgomery.
Judi Montgomery tells us about her hero William Commanda in this 6 minute video.
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Courage - The Bear
Courage is the ability to face danger, fear or changes with confidence and bravery. The bear represents courage because of strength and natural ability to overcome challenges. A mother bear, for example, will stand against a much larger, stronger male bear or other threat to protect her cubs.
Just as the bear hibernates during the winter and reawakens each spring, we too, need rest and rejuvenation. The bear shows us how to live a balanced life, where there is a time to be playful and a time to be assertive and courageous.
Native people believe that the bear calls them to awaken the potential within themselves and to stand up for what they believe in.
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Tobacco
Tobacco is one of the sacred medicines used for communicating with the spiritual realm and the Creator. It is used in traditional ceremonies, rituals and prayers to give thanks to the Creator and Mother Earth, to communicate with the spirits and purify the mind, and to heal the body. When sacred tobacco is tied up and burned in a smudge, the smoke rises and provides a link to the spirits. It is believed that a small amount of sacred tobacco offered in the physical world is magnified in the spirit world and calls upon our ancestors for help.
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Candy Salmon from Native Tech Recipes.
This recipe suggests you begin by fishing for salmon, but you may prefer to visit the fish section of your local grocery store.
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Pow Wow Etiquette: Quick guidelines and tips to help those attending Powwows know how to participate respectfully.
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Sources for Aboriginal books:
Aboriginal Book Lending:
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| | | | Tyendinaga Pow Wow
Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9
View Event
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| | Full Moon Ceremonies, Kingston
Thursday August 27
View Event
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| | | | Aboriginal Family Literacy Circle Partners:
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Copyright 2014 Aboriginal Family Literacy Circle
1178 County Road #8, K7R 3K7, Napanee, Canada | |
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