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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter May 2026 |
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In this Issue:
Books: It's a Mitig!, A Baby on My Back, Kohkom's First Drum, The Sound My Heart Makes Our Arts: Métis Beadwork Painting for Kids Our Music: Misko-kaakigan Opichi / Red-breasted Robin Our Words: Flowers in Anishinaabemowin Our Stories: Haudenosaunee Creation Story Our Traditions: Access to Indigenous Wisdom |
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| It's a Mitig!
Infant and Toddler
Bridget George is an Anishinaabe author-illustrator and graphic designer. Raised on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, she now lives in London, ON, with her young son. It’s a Mitig!, her debut picture book, won the TD Summer Reading Club and First Nation Communities READ / PMC Indigenous Literature Award, and she has since worked on several more bestselling and critically acclaimed books for children, including The Animal People Choose a Leader (2024) and The Inquisitive Raven (2025) by Richard Wagamese.
This award-winning, bestselling early introduction to the Ojibwe language is now available in a board book edition.
Giizis—the sun—rises. What’s hiding in the trees? It’s a Mitig!
From sunup to sundown, little ones will explore the forest and meet a curious amik playing with sticks, a prickly gaag hiding in the bushes and a big, bark-covered mitig.
With vibrant artwork, and free online audio recordings available to help build the confidence of early language learners, It’s a Mitig! is a joyful celebration of language and land—created to spark a lifelong love of learning. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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| A Baby on My Back
Preschool and Kindergarten
Ceporah Mearns is from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, but calls Iqaluit, Nunavut home. She lives there with her husband and their children, Siasi and Siloah. Together, they enjoy cooking family dinners, visiting friends and family, going sliding, and spending time at their cabin. Ceporah is a co-author of several children's books. Tindur Peturs is an animator and illustrator, born and raised in Iceland, who moved to Canada to study animation and Canadian culture.
Inuit babies spend much of their time in the warm embrace of their mother’s amaut, the snug pouch in the back of a woman’s parka where babies and small children can be carried.
In this heartwarming story, a little girl helps out her busy aunt by packing her baby cousin in a cozy amaut. She walks her cousin and sings sweetly to her, finally lulling the fussy baby to sleep.
Sharing a beautiful tradition that Inuit girls have practised for generations, author Ceporah Mearns shows young readers the joy of helping to care for the babies in their families. Full-colour illustrations throughout. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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| Kohkom's First Drum
Primary
My drum feels like a gift that says I belong.
When Charlie’s Kohkom asks him what the best part of his school day was, he knows right away: Indigenous drum circle!
Kohkom tells him that not very long ago she was gifted her very first drum at a ceremony for children who never returned home from residential schools. But Charlie doesn’t understand. How could she only have gotten her first drum so recently?
Kohkom explains that she was taken from her family when she was very little because of something called the Sixties Scoop. She was raised by an adoptive white family and only later learned what being Cree meant. It’s taken her a long time to feel like she belongs. Kohkom's story gives Charlie the idea to teach her a song so they can play their drums together. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| The Sound My Heart Makes
Adult
South Wind, Albert Dumont, Algonquin Kitigan Zibi Elder and the former Ottawa Poet Laureate, has a new poetry book, The Sound My Heart Makes.
"I went to the barren landscapes and lush forests of my past, hunting poetry. I saw a poem resting on the branch of a balsam fir tree, another sitting in the whitewaters of a small secluded river. High in the sky I saw a poem, its wings open, playing on the winds. I saw a poem, cruelly biting into a human heart. I captured them and many others. The hunt was good! Dear readers, you will find them herein." (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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| Métis Beadwork Painting for Kids
Josée Bergeron is a French-Canadian Indigenous Métis educator and writer who has been helping families feel at home in nature since 2009. She shares this activity and says, "this activity works best for children ages 8 and up, but it is adaptable for younger children. Although this art looks simple it does take time and patience to complete." |
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| Misko-kaakigan Opichi / Red-breasted Robin
This song found on Ojibwe.net is a new favourite with children attending Kahwa:tsire Indigenous-Led Child & Family Programs, so they made a video for families to continue to practice at home. (.29 second video) |
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| Wiisigibagohns with Joseph Pitawanakwat
Learn about Wiisigibagohns /Anemone, Canada with Joseph Pitawanakwat of Creator's Garden. (3:31 minute video) |
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| Haudenosaunee Creation Story
Listen to a Creation Story about Sky Woman as shared by Kenhtè:ke Paranormal Society. (7:14 minute video) |
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| Access to Indigenous Wisdom
This video featured a clip from "Voices of Wisdom" series featuring Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, a member of the Turtle Clan and Mohawk Nation at Six Nations Grand River Territory. (2:51 minute video) |
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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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| 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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Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
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| Jane's Walk, Kingston, ON Sunday, May 3 |
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| Indigenous Languages Circle, Kingston, ON Sunday, May 10 |
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| Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Ottawa, ON Saturday, May 16 |
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| | Indigenous Languages Circle, Kingston, ON Sunday, May 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 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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