| View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
|
Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter June 2025 |
|
|
|
In this Issue:
Books: Baby's First Cherokee, Celebrating Potlatches, Little Bear, Little Berry, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World Our Music: Eshkmegwenh ezhi-gziked nji-waabgonii meno'ginig Our Words: Ode'imini Giizis Our Stories: Strawberry Teachings Our Traditions: National Indigenous History Month Our Recipe: Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad
|
|
|
Did you know...
...for some First Nations, June is known as the Strawberry Moon? The Strawberry Moon represents and acknowledges the growth needed to build strong relations with all of Creation. The strawberry represents the heart and working together with kindness and love. During this moon, we turn our focus to growing strong relationships and supporting one another in all that we do.
This moon is also known as Booming Moon, Hot Moon, Mead Moon, Rose Moon, Egg Laying Moon, Hoeing Moon, Honey Moon, as well as others. (excerpt from Ontario Native Women's Association)
|
|
|
| Baby's First Cherokee
Infant and Toddler
By author Brad Wagnon, a Cherokee Nation citizen. Illustrated by Beth Anderson, also a Cherokee Nation citizen and a contemporary visual artist.
A beautiful board book that introduces toddlers and young children to the Cherokee syllabary. The thirteen colourful illustrations draw children into the picture on every page. The object in each picture is named in Cherokee, along with the Cherokee pronunciation of the word, and the name of the object in English. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
|
|
| Celebrating Potlatches
Preschool and Kindergarten
Inspired by Ts’msyen Chief William Beynon’s historic notebooks on Potlatches in the Gitxsan village of Gitsegukla, Celebrating Potlatches pairs intergenerational storytelling with beautiful illustrations to honour Indigenous traditions. From the award-winning author of Oolichan Moon and the accomplished illustrator of Be a Good Ancestor, this book recounts the 1885 Potlatch ban and the resilience of the communities who fought to keep their traditions alive. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
|
|
| Little Bear, Little Berry
Primary
Story by Cecelia Rose LaPointe, Ojibway/Métis, of Mashkiziibi (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe or LaPointe Band of Ojibwe) and Kchiwiikwedong (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community - Michigan. Illustrations by Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie, Anishinaabe/Irish, and an artist working mostly in the mediums of beading and digital art. She is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario and currently resides on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations in so-called Vancouver.
Little Bear, Little Berry is about love. In Anishinaabe culture, the strawberry is translated as a heart berry. The message of love is interwoven with culture, family, the forest, birds, flowers, and adventure.
The book is in English with an Ojibwe glossary. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
|
|
| The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
Teen and Adult
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.
As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.” (excerpt from Strongnations.com)
|
|
|
Filmed by Aanii Nichii Drones, this video is meant to show what the Osprey sees while flying over the All Our Relations Highway 15 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden while grandmothers sing & drum and children play and learn. Miigwech Sisters of the Drum, Kahwa:tsire Indigenous-Led Child & Family Programs, All Our Relations and Aanii Nichii Drones. (4:02 minute video) |
|
|
| Ode'imini Giizis
June is known as the Strawberry Moon. Learn to pronounce the Ojibwe Moon name with James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw. |
|
|
| Strawberry Teachings
In this video by Niwasa Hamilton, Aunt Cindy shares Kanyen'keha teachings about the strawberry. (19:57 minute video) |
|
|
| National Indigenous History Month
Did you know June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day? Watch this video to learn more about both and how they began! (11:02 minute video) |
|
|
| Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad
Kennedy shares a tasty salad with strawberries! |
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
|
| NEW! 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. |
|
|
| NEW! 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. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
| Beauty in Movement: An Indigenous Guide to Physical Activity Pamphlet about the importance of physical activity and ideas to get children moving
|
|
|
Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
|
|
|
| Learning to Care for Our Relatives: Events at the Garden, Kingston, ON June 7, June 14, June 15 |
|
|
| Indigenous Day Celebration, Bancroft, ON Friday, June 20 |
|
|
| National Indigenous Peoples Day, Kingston, ON Saturday, June 21 |
|
|
| Third Annual Strawberry Social, Tyendinaga, ON Saturday, June 28 |
| | | Jay Bell Redbird Indigenous Arts Pavilion at Artfest, Kingston, ON Saturday, June 28 - July 1 |
| | 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.
|
| | 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. Click here to download or print the Come Walk in My Moccasins pamphlet. |
| | |
Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
|
