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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter August 2025 |
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In this Issue:
Books: Discovering Words, Mitzy's First Time Picking Sweetgrass, Sweetgrass, Motorcycles & Sweetgrass Our Music: Sweetgrass Song Our Words: Sweetgrass in Algonquin Our Stories: The First Blade of Sweetgrass Our Traditions: Braiding Sweetgrass Our Recipe: Blueberry Sweetgrass Vinaigrette
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Did you know...
... sweet grass is a sacred medicine? The flat, bright green leaves can grow up to half a meter long or more, and have a distinctively reddish colour at their base. It is also referred to as the "hair of Mother Earth". The sweet scent is a reminder of Mother Earth's love.
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| Discovering Words
Infant and Toddler
Discovering Words: English, French, Cree is a primary-level 28-page board book designed to introduce basic vocabulary for the English alphabet. Cree artist and educator Neepin Auger from Bigstone Cree Nation (Woodland Cree) has created an effective early childhood education resource that is culture-based. The original, brightly-coloured drawings convey these basic 26 alphabet concepts in three languages. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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| Mitzy's First Time Picking Sweetgrass
Preschool and Kindergarten
This book is about a curious kitty who gets to experience her first time sweetgrass picking with her mom. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| Sweetgrass
Primary
A modern story of traditional Indigenous knowledge that follows a young boy and his Auntie as they gather and braid sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines.
It's early July, and for Matthew and his Auntie that means one thing: time to go sweetgrass picking. This year, Matthew's younger cousin Warren is coming along, and it will be his first time visiting the shoreline where the sweetgrass grows.
With Auntie's traditional Mi'kmaw knowledge and Matthew's gentle guidance, Warren learns about the many uses for sweetgrass—as traditional medicine, a sacred offering, a smudging ingredient—and the importance of not picking more than he needs. Once the trio is back at Auntie's house, she shows the boys how to clean and braid the grass.
From the duo behind the bestsellers The Gathering and The Sharing Circle, this heartfelt story about the gifts we receive from Mother Earth and how to gather them respectfully offers thoughtful insight into a treasured Mi'kmaw tradition. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| Motorcycles & Sweetgrass
Adult
A story of magic, family, a mysterious stranger . . . and a band of marauding raccoons.
Otter Lake is a sleepy Anishnawbe community where little happens. Until the day a handsome stranger pulls up astride a 1953 Indian Chief motorcycle – and turns Otter Lake completely upside down. Maggie, the Reserve’s chief, is swept off her feet, but Virgil, her teenage son, is less than enchanted. Suspicious of the stranger’s intentions, he teams up with his uncle Wayne – a master of aboriginal martial arts – to drive the stranger from the Reserve. And it turns out that the raccoons are willing to lend a hand. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| Sweetgrass Song
A song honouring sweetgrass by Bear Fox. (2:31 minute video) |
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| Sweetgrass in Algonquin
Learn to say sweetgrass in Anishinaabemowin (Algonquin language) with Diane from North Hastings Children's Services. (12 second video) |
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| The First Blade of Sweetgrass
As part of Rockland Public Library's storytime, Miss Katie shares the story of The First Blade of Sweetgrass by by Suzanne Greenlaw & Gabriel Frey, and Nancy Baker. (11:07 minute video) |
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| Braiding Sweetgrass
Learn to braid sweetgrass with Grandmother Colleen. This video was taken at the Highway 15 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden in Kingston, Ontario. (2:08 minute video) |
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| Blueberry Sweetgrass Vinaigrette
Mohawk Chef, Tawnya Brant, shares her recipe for blueberry sweetgrass vinaigrette. For a printable copy of this recipe, click this link. |
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Indigenous Language Resources |
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| Mohawk Language Learning Resource This open education resource (OER) may be used a supplementary resource to learning the Mohawk language at the beginner level. In the first part of the OER, the basic morphology, of the language is introduced through pronouns, pronoun prefixes, particles, and verb roots. The second part introduces vocabulary builders. Finally, in the third part, basic conversational language is explored.
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Language Resources created with the intention of learning and developing your knowledge of the Michif language. The resources featured are trilingual including the following languages; Michif, French, and English.
Anishnaabemowin - Our Language Our Culture
Ojibwa language booklet
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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. |
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Free Anishinaabemowin printable resources, lesson plans, and videos to help learn the language |
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| Ohné:ka Healing Project Educator's Resource Guide Created by Abraham Francis and Dr. Sarah Konwahahawi Rourke in collaboration with the Indigenous Arts Collective, designed to reconnect youth and communities with traditional teachings and the sacred responsibility to Water. |
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| Pow Wow Etiquette Everyone is welcome at a Pow Wow! It is a celebration of Indigenous culture. If it is your first time attending, please become familiar with Pow Wow etiquette. Miigwech Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe for creating this resource. |
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| Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing Explore teachings, strategies, and resources that guide the inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing in early learning environments. This is a FREE online course provided by the University of British Columbia. |
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| 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. |
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| Beauty in Movement: An Indigenous Guide to Physical Activity Pamphlet about the importance of physical activity and ideas to get children moving
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Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
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| Kahwa:tsire Napanee Playgroup, Napanee, ON Wednesday, August 6 |
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| Full Moon Ceremony, Shannonville, ON Friday, August 8 |
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| Tyendinaga Traditional Pow Wow, Tyendinaga, ON August 9 & 10 |
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| Language Dinner and Games, Kingston, ON Sunday, August 10 |
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WAVES 2025: Global Indigenous Languages Summit, Ottawa, ON
August 11-14, 2025 |
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| Silver Lake Traditional Pow Wow, Silver Lake, ON August 23 & 24 |
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| 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 kahwatsire@mbq-tmt.org if you are interested in becoming a guest contributor.
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| | Indigenous Family Literacy Circle Partners:
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| 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. Click here to download or print the Come Walk in My Moccasins pamphlet. |
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Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
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