| View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
|
Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter
April 2021
|
|
|
|
In this Issue:
Books: I Sang You Down From The Stars, Birdsong, Lela and the Butterflies, As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock Our Music: Butterfly Song Our Arts: Rebecca Maracle, Mohawk Feathersmith Our Words: Butterfly in Ojibwe & Mohawk Our Stories: How Horse Got Winged Feet Our Traditions: Stick Game Recipe: Mixed Green Salad with Apples & Maple Pecans Cultural Safety: Indigenous Worldviews |
|
|
| Did you know…
There are many traditional stories about butterflies. Native Americans have a strong spiritual connection to nature which is sometimes represented through the butterfly.
Many First Nation Peoples have different interpretations for a butterfly. Some see it as a symbol of a dream, some as a symbol of joy, some as communication from a lost loved one. Some Native Americans believe that dreams are delivered by butterflies.
Personal Reflection Question…
What do you think of when you see a butterfly?
|
|
|
| I Sang You Down From The Stars
Infant and Toddler
Drawing from Indigenous creation stories and traditional teachings and illustrated in dazzling watercolors, I Sang You Down from the Stars is a tribute to the bond between mother and child.
The narrator gathers gifts for a medicine bundle in anticipation of her baby’s birth; a fluffy white eagle plume, bunches of cedar and sage, a quilted star blanket, and a small stone from the river. When the baby arrives, the mother shares the bundle with her child and reveals the importance of each item inside. But when her family comes to meet the new arrival, she realizes the baby arrived with gifts of its own and that the baby is also a sacred bundle: a baby bundle. (excerpt from Strongnations.com)
|
|
|
Birdsong
Preschool and Kindergarten
When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of arts and crafts. Can the girl navigate the changing seasons and failing health of her new friend? Acclaimed author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships and shared passions. (excerpt from Strongnations.com)
|
|
|
| Lela and the Butterflies Primary
Lela loves butterflies. When she takes a nature walk with Ranger Maggie, she learns that butterflies need help. Lela's small steps in butterfly conservation start with a butterfly garden of nectar and host plants, but she doesn't stop there and ends up spreading her love for butterflies throughout the community. A simple guide to planting a butterfly garden is also included. A great read aloud for storytime and picture book for elementary school readers. (excerpt from Goodminds.com)
|
|
|
As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock
Adult
The story of Native peoples’ resistance to environmental injustice and land incursions, and a call for environmentalists to learn from the Indigenous community’s rich history of activism.
Through the unique lens of “Indigenized environmental justice,” Indigenous researcher and activist Dina Gilio-Whitaker explores the fraught history of treaty violations, struggles for food and water security, and protection of sacred sites, while highlighting the important leadership of Indigenous women in this centuries-long struggle. As Long As Grass Grows gives readers an accessible history of Indigenous resistance to government and corporate incursions on their lands and offers new approaches to environmental justice activism and policy.
Throughout 2016, the Standing Rock protest put a national spotlight on Indigenous activists, but it also underscored how little Americans know about the longtime historical tensions between Native peoples and the mainstream environmental movement. Ultimately, she argues, modern environmentalists must look to the history of Indigenous resistance for wisdom and inspiration in our common fight for a just and sustainable future. (excerpt from Strongnations.com)
|
|
|
| Butterfly Song
Diane, from North Hastings Children's Services, shares the Butterfly song to call the butterflies home. (1:36 minute video) |
|
|
Rebecca Maracle, Mohawk Feathersmith
Rebecca Maracle is an Artist, Traditional Medicine Healer and a member of the Haudenosaunee. By the teachings of her people she learned at an early age to respect Mother Earth and all she has to offer us.
Rebecca has been taught to pass along her heritage and her beliefs through her traditional style of artwork. She has won numerous awards and her art can be found in private collections around the world.
|
|
|
| Butterfly
Learn to say "butterfly" and count to five in Ojibwe and Mohawk with Vicki & Mj from Kahwa:tsire Indigenous-Led Child & Family Programs. (.59 second video)
|
|
|
| How Horse Got Winged Feet
Storyteller, Gerald Hausman, reads the story, How Horse Got Winged-Feet. A traditional story that teaches us about how a little kindness can lead to big changes. (4:47 minute video) |
|
|
| Stick Game
Lynda Gerow demonstrates and talks about the traditional stick game. (1:34 minute video) |
|
|
| Mixed Green Salad with Apples & Maple Pecans
A recipe from the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle Recipe Collection. The maple pecans are a great topping for any salad and they also make a great snack on their own! Recommended dressing to serve with this salad is balsamic vinaigrette or maple shallot. |
|
|
This video about Indigenous Worldviews is part of a lesson from the "Indigenous Canada" course offered by the University of Alberta. As Dr. Tracy Bear says, "It's difficult to fully explain the concept of worldviews, including Indigenous worldviews because they are so diverse, and complex, and there are a multitude of ways to understand the world. Despite this diversity, there are some similarities that we can find amongst the many Indigenous worldviews." (16:39 minute video) |
|
Indigenous Language Resources |
|
First Voices Kids
Interactive online resource for helping children learn words and phrases in 50 different Indigenous languages on Turtle Island!
Anishnaabemowin - Our Language Our Culture
Ojibwa language booklet
|
|
Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na provides Mohawk language and culture programming at the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte). They run several programs, including Totáhne (At Grandma's House) for preschool children, Kawenna'ón:we Primary Immersion (K-4) and Shatiwennakará:tats, a year long program for Adults. |
|
| Kingston Indigenous Language Nest invites you to engage in language revitalization with Dibajimowin: Urban Indigenous Languages Revitalization Project. The centerpiece of this website is a collection of thirty digital stories about culture and language made by community members. Each personal story shares insights into the barriers to language learning and cultural connection as well as the many ways we are resilient and relentless. For each story, we pulled out key themes to create new language learning resources such as vocabulary lessons, creative activities and cultural teachings. We have sorted the stories in different ways: by digital story, by language and by cultural teachings. Explore and Enjoy! |
|
Free Anishinaabemowin printable resources, lesson plans, and videos to help learn the language |
|
|
| Toronto Zoo- Turtle Island Conservation Toronto Zoo's Turtle Island Conservation programme (TIC) respectfully shares the hopes and goals of First Nation partners in our committment to the preservation of biodiversity. TIC partners with First Nation communities to preserve community knowledge and significant natural and cultural landscapes.
Resources available in Ojibwe and Mohawk. |
|
|
Aanii.org Resource website for Anishinaabe culture, history and language |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Beauty in Movement: An Indigenous Guide to Physical Activity Pamphlet about the importance of physical activity and ideas to get children moving
|
|
|
| Gathering Communities Making Connections A list of resources and services for people of Indigenous
Ancestry, and for those who work with them |
|
|
Canoe Kids
A family book for readers of all ages that explores Indigenous cultures through authentic Indigenous voices
|
|
|
Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
|
|
|
Ottawa Book Launch: We All Go Back to the Land, ONLINE
Thursday, April 1 |
|
| | | Indigenous Arts Series, Kingston, ON
Saturday, April 3 |
| | WBIIH Guest Speaker: Mohawk Elder & Author Tom Porter, ONLINE
Tuesday, April 6 |
| | | Decolonizing and Indigenizing Education in Canada, ONLINE |
| | IndigeFest: A Celebration of Indigenous Cultures from Across Turtle Island, ONLINE
Saturday, April 24 |
| | We need YOU!
Help us become more inclusive of the many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples among our readership. Share an Indigenous recipe, song, or traditional art through Come Walk in My Moccasins. Contact aflccanada@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a guest contributor.
|
| | Indigenous Family Literacy Circle Partners:
|
| Come Walk in My Moccasins is created by the Indigenous Family Literacy Circle and sponsored by Journey Together through Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. |
| | |
Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
|
