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| Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter January 2026 |
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| In this Issue:
Books: Ukaliq and Kalla Travel on the Ice, Labrador Skies, Aaniin: I See Your Light, Spirits Dancing, Our Arts: Isaruit Inuit Arts Our Music: Tânisi Song Our Words: Thanksgiving Address Our Stories: The Turtle With the Sun Under Its Chin Our Traditions: Midwinter Ceremony Recipe: Mug Cake
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| | | Ukaliq and Kalla Travel on the Ice
Infant and Toddler
Ukaliq and Kalla Travel on the Ice is a search-and-find board book illustrated by Amanda Sandland. Search-and-find book help children develop their observational skills, early literacy skills and language development. In Ukaliq and Kalla Travel on Ice, children are encouraged to find things for this trip with Ukaliq and Kalla. Items are hidden in the pictures and include things you would need for a trip such as flashlight, goggles, sleeping bag, or mug but also much more – caribou, snowy owl for example – who you would meet along the way. This is a dual language English and Inuktitut syllabics book. (excerpt Goodminds.com) |
| | | Labrador Skies
Preschool and Kindergarten
Kayla Williams is a mixed Inuit artist, author, and designer from Goose Bay, Labrador. Her father’s family is Nunatsiavut Inuit, and her mother is Scottish/French. She spent many of her summers growing up on the coast of Labrador in Cartwright with her grandmother, connecting to her culture and learning how to live off the land. She writes and illustrates children’s books that celebrate Indigenous identity, ensuring young readers see themselves in stories. She also paints murals that reclaim Indigenous narratives and brighten public spaces in Labrador. Through her work, Kayla shares the beauty and resilience of Labrador’s people. When she’s not creating, she’s raising her two children and running her artistic business, Big Land Design. Illustrated by Thamires Paredes who lives and works as a freelance illustrator in Brazil and has a great passion for telling stories through her art.
Hush my sweet one, close your eyes,
let me tell you a story of the Labrador skies.
This poem, written by Labrador Inuit author-illustrator Kayla Williams, takes readers on a lyrical journey through the skies of Labrador, showcasing all the beauty that makes “the Big Land” unique.
From snowmobiles gliding through silent forests to the snowy crunch of fur mukluks on the ice, the sights and sounds of Labrador are lovingly recreated for young readers.
This is our home of Labrador, the most beautiful place we could be! This book contains colour illustrations. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
| | | Aaniin : I See Your Light
Primary
Using the Ojibwe Seven Grandfather Teachings, this picture book introduces universal values for living with loving recognition of a child’s own inner goodness.
Each of us has an inner light that might not always be seen by others. Aaniin (ah-NEEN) is a greeting in the Ojibwe language for hello and can also be translated as “I see your light.”
With the help of the Ojibwe Seven Grandfather Teachings—Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility, and Wisdom—we can learn to see this brilliance shining through everyone and express our appreciation for one another’s light. (excerpt Goodminds.com) |
| | | Spirits Dancing : The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos
Adult
Travis Novitsky, a member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is a lifelong resident of the north shore of Lake Superior, is a nature and wildlife photographer living in Grand Portage, Minnesota. He is most known for his images portraying the wonders of the night sky. He is also of mixed-race Native American of Ojibwe, French, Swedish, Russian, and Polish ancestry. Annette S. Lee, PhD, MFA, is a mixed-race Native American of Lakota, Chinese, and Irish ancestry and is an award-winning visual artist, science communicator, and civic engagement leader who leads social transformation work with Indigenous communities worldwide, especially Ojibwe and D(L)akota people on Turtle Island (North America) and Mni Sota Makoce (Minnesota).
An exploration of human connection to the aurora, the Milky Way, and the wonder of the universe above us, with gorgeous photographs by a master photographer.
For millennia, humans have marveled at the night sky: the wonder of the aurora, the glory of the Milky Way, and the peace that comes with stargazing. In this remarkable book, Travis Novitsky’s photographs portray these marvels, while astrophysicist Annette S. Lee discusses how Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together to provide a deeper understanding of our place in the universe.
Novitsky has been photographing the night sky for decades, and his vibrant images reflect and transmit the experiences he has had under the night sky. Astrophysicist and artist Annette S. Lee has been teaching about the stars and creating art that shows them for more than 30 years. She provides a brief but thorough overview of how Western science explains the aurora, from the 17th-century astronomers who first studied sunspots to the 21st-century acoustic scientist who recorded their sounds. Lee also presents examples of the ways Indigenous skywatchers have seen the sky and our place in it.
Both authors write of the wonders of starbathing: sitting quietly under the stars, knowing that humans have always done this, knowing that we literally come from the stars. Working together in this remarkable book, they bring the aurora to readers. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
| | Isaruit Inuit Arts
Isaruit is a proudly Inuit-led organization in Ottawa that celebrates and uplifts Inuit art, artists, and knowledge through skill development, cultural exchange, and community support. Click the link above to visit their website and learn more! |
| | | Tânisi Song
Sing along with Brian MacDonald and learn to say "hello" and other useful phrases in Cree. (1:48 minute video) |
| | | Thanksgiving Address
Learn Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (The Words Before All Else) in Kanyen'kéha with Miss Kristi. Video by Teach Native Culture. (3:21 minute video) |
| | | Turtle With The Sun Under Its Chin
Taylor from your Toronto Zoo, shares this traditional story of why Blanding's turtles look the way they do. (4:21 minute video) |
| | | Midwinter Ceremony
Tracey shares her understandings of the Mohawk Midwinter Cermonies. Each Nation’s ceremonies will be different based on their own Communities teachings and experiences. This is the beginning of the Spiritual Year or what some might call a “New Years Ceremony”. This ceremony acknowledges the beginning of the cycle of Ceremonies, our connections and responsibilities. |
| | | Mug Cake
Carlene shares a simple recipe she recently tried. You may like that there are not many dishes to clean up after this quick snack!
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| Indigenous Language Resources |
| | 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. |
| Free Anishinaabemowin printable resources, lesson plans, and videos to help learn the language |
| | | 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. |
| | | 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. |
| | | 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. |
| | Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
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| | | Grandmother's Midwinter Ceremony, Kingston, ON Saturday, January 10 |
| | | Introduction to Mohawk, Kingston, ON Tuesday, January 13, 20, 27 |
| | | Ojibwe Songs & Stories, ONLINE Wednesday, January 14, 21, and 28 |
| | Indigenous Languages Circle, Kingston, ON
Sunday, January 25 |
| | | Winterlude Festival - Indigenous Highlights, Ottawa, ON Friday, January 30 |
| | 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. |
| | | Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | | | |
