David Bouchard

This is the Teacher Lesson Plan that accompanies the book Meet Your Family. Includes comprehension questions, group activities, wordsearch, colouring pages etc. Mother Earth, we come from her, we go to her, without her we wouldn't be here, she gives all of us life and because of her we are all one family. In many segments of Indigenous life we speak of Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon.

Meet Your Family is a rhythmic poem that will enlighten readers on how to view these important figures and share a greater concept of seeing the world as our natural family. Meet Your Family is presented in both English and Ojibway. An additional softcover book written in Ojibway with a phonetics guide is included inside this hardcover book.

Educator Information
Includes:

– Brainstorming Activity

– Letter Writing

– Comprehension Questions

– Colouring

– Crossword Puzzle

– Word Search

The license allows the use of this lesson plan within a single school. It can be copied and shared within one school but is not to be shared beyond that.

The student resource is available here: Meet Your Family / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog

Additional Information
12 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | b&w illustrations 

This Teacher Lesson Plan accompanies the book Rencontre ta famille. Includes comprehension questions, group activities, wordsearch, colouring pages etc. Mother Earth, we come from her, we go to her, without her we wouldn't be here, she gives all of us life and because of her we are all one family. In many segments of Indigenous life we speak of Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon. Meet Your Family is a rhythmic poem that will enlighten readers on how to view these important figures and share a greater concept of seeing the world as our natural family.

Rencontre ta famille is presented in both French and Ojibway. An additional softcover book written in Ojibway with a phonetics guide is included inside this hardcover book.

Educator Information
This is the teacher lesson plan for Rencontre ta famille.

This teacher lesson plan is also available in English: Meet Your Family Teacher Lesson Plan

Additional Information
12 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

Dominique passe la fin de semaine chez son cousin Étienne. Celui-ci en profite pour l’initier à son sport favori : mieux que le hockey, le hockey bottine ! La seule et unique règle est de s’amuser, en marquant le plus de buts possible. Le match s’annonce mouvementé. Actions d’éclat, culbutes et fous rires sont au rendez-vous !Un album qui sent bon l’hiver et les copains.Une histoire signée David Bouchard et Dean Griffiths, à la fin surprenante qui plaira aussi bien aux garçons qu’aux filles.

Dreamcatcher and the Seven Deceivers, the sequel to the Seven Sacred Teachings, warns of voices we can expect to hear in our dream time – voices that do not represent the Sacred Teachings.

These are the voices of Seven Deceivers who are spoken of by name. The allure of their whisperings is carefully spelled out in order that all might come to know what to listen for. Dreamcatcher and the Seven Deceivers is a carefully woven telling of how and why Creator sent Trickster to Turtle Island with a gift that would help us see the light and resist temptation. At a time before distant religions and churches came with their teachings, their commandments and their seven cardinal sins, we knew. We knew the way of the Good Red Road. We knew the right way to live; not through commandments but through Sacred Teachings – Teachings that were given to us long before their arrival. And we knew we would be tested by Seven Deceivers – what they called seven cardinal sins. We knew because we had been forewarned. And when these distant churches arrived with their teachings, their relics and their symbols, we had our own. One was the Dreamcatcher.

Rooted in humility and honesty, the creators have tried to respect the cultures and traditions of all peoples. It is our hope that this telling will unite and thus heal divisions. Prophecies tell that this is the time for One Heart, One Mind and One Drum. We, readers and authors alike, are the ones we have been waiting for. There is nobody else who can revitalize our culture and values except ourselves.

It is our hope that this telling might move readers toward greater courage and wisdom and ultimately toward achieving and understanding what is true in life’s journey.

The Seven Sacred Teachings are a link that ties all Native, Inuit and Métis communities together.

Educator Information
Available in French HERE!

Additional Information
35 pages

Comme un cœur qui bat, le tambour résonne dans la nuit invitant les danseurs à entrer dans la danse ronde. Il y a dans l'air une magie, une paix. À cette célébration nocturne sont conviés les esprits qui nous habitent et ceux qui nous entourent. Entrez dans la grande ronde et vous sentirez, vous aussi, leur présence.

De nouveau, cette fois-ci en collaboration avec le groupe Northern Cree, le peintre Jim Poitras, un Cri du nord, et de la poétesse crie Shelley Willier, David Bouchard, écrivain métis primé et auteur à succès, conjugue poésie, peinture et chant pour nous faire découvrir la beauté de la culture autochtone dans un album qui envoûtera, par sa sensibilité, autant les petits que les grands.

Educator Information
Includes a CD with French and Cree.

Recommended Ages: 8+

Additional Information
120 pages | 9.50" x 11.30"

Award-winning poet David Bouchard offers words that remind the reader of the power of the wind, the sweep of the sky, and adventures on a cold prairie night. Henry Ripplinger's stunning paintings are treasures for the mind and the heart.

Reviews
"If you're from the prairie or not it doesn't matter: this evocative book will take your breath away. David Bouchard has created a series of verses about life on the prairie that are simple, lyrical and exquisite. Henry Ripplinger's brush matches the cadence of the poetry stroke for stroke. This is a book that is hard to put down and easy to return to. Is it an adult book masquerading as a children's book? It is the author's and illustrator's loving look back to their home, but it transcends age and time and place. A child will be drawn in by the poetry's ingenious metaphors and the pictures' panoramic rural scenes. The prairie landscape is realistically painted with a magical glow that distance in time allows the painter. An adult will hear the nostalgic echoes of childhood. Adult or child--one's eyes will be lost in the expanse of the prairie and one's ears will reverberate with the melodic rhymes." - Theo Hersh, CM Magazine

Educator Information
Ages: 6+

This resource is also available in French: Si tu n’es pas de la prairie

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.34" x 9.36"

Sélection Communication-Jeunesse 2010-2011, 5-8 ans
Médaille d’or du Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, 2009

“Certains vous diront que votre totem représente l’être que vous étiez dans une vie antérieure ou que vous pourriez devenir dans la prochaine. C’est peut-être vrai. D’autres vous diront que votre totem est la source de vos forces et de vos faiblesses. Ça, je le crois. Connaître mon totem m’aide à me connaître. Et quand je connais le totem de quelqu’un d’autre, cela m’aide à mieux le comprendre.”

Cet ouvrage de l’auteur métis David Bouchard nous familiarise avec le sens, le concept et le rôle du totem et des animaux emblématiques dans la vie de tous les jours des peuples des Premières nations. 

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: I Am Raven: A Story of Discovery

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.46" x 9.84"

Corbeau rêva… et créa les Quatre-pattes, les Ailés, les Rampants.
Il continua à rêver… à rêver… et il créa sa plus belle oeuvre jamais réalisée.

Gaagaagi gii-pawaajige ogii-pawaanaa’ gaa-niiyogaadenid,
gaa-bimisewaad, gaa-bimoodewaad. Geyaabigo gii-pawaajige …
Gii-pawaajige ezhi-mino-ozhiitaad …

Il y a autant de versions de la Création que de peuples des Premières nations en Amérique du Nord. L’histoire qui suit est le fruit d’un rêve de David Bouchard, auteur métis membre de l’Ordre du Canada. Dans la pure tradition des Métis et de leur art du conte, David Bouchard initie le lecteur au monde du Ciel, au peuple de la Terre, au mythe du Corbeau, à l’Île de la Tortue, à l’apparition des Deux-pattes (les humains).

Comme dans tous ses ouvrages qui ont reçu prix et récompenses et réuni des artistes autochtones tels que Allan Sapp, Dennis Weber, Michael Lonechild, Buffy Sainte-Marie et Susan Aglukark, David Bouchard joue un rôle de rassembleur en s’entourant une nouvelle fois d’artistes et de musiciens reconnus pour leur excellence.
Le lecteur découvrira la passion et le talent de la peintre cherokee Brigitte Lopez et de la chanteuse lumbee Jana Mashonee. Bien au-delà de l’oeuvre littéraire, de la fierté et de la culture d’un peuple, ce livre proclame la complémentarité et l’extrême richesse de l’expression artistique des Premières nations au niveau des mots, de l’image et du son.

Album couleurs couverture rigide avec jaquette

Il y a des lunes, j’ai entendu mes enfants pleurer… Aujourd’hui, je reviens sous la forme de la Femme Bison Blanc.

Aujourd’hui, je reviens te révéler les sept enseignements sacrés. Les Sept enseignements sacrés nous parle de valeurs traditionnelles communes aux peuples autochtones l’humilité, l’honnêteté, le respect, le courage, la sagesse, la vérité et l’amour.

À chaque valeur correspond un arbre, une plante, un animal dont les attributs et les qualités fondent la base des enseignements qui sont un message d’espoir et d’universalité.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English and Ojibwe: Seven Sacred Teachings: Niizhwaaswi gagiikwewin

Mother Earth, we come from her, we go to her, without her we wouldn't be here, she gives all of us life and because of her we are all one family. In many segments of Indigenous life we speak of Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon. Meet Your Family / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog is a rhythmic poem that will enlighten readers on how to view these important figures and share a greater concept of seeing the world as our natural family. Meet Your Family / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog is presented in both English and Ojibway. An additional softcover book written in Ojibway with a phonetics guide is included inside this hardcover book.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Dual-language English/Ojibwe book. An additional softcover book in Ojibwe with a language learning guide is included inside the hardcover book.

This book offers a spiritual way of looking at all living things on earth as being connected through Mother Nature.

A teacher lesson plan is available: Meet Your Family Teacher Lesson Plan

This book is available in French and Ojibway: Rencontre ta famille / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog

Additional Information
28 pages | 10.95" x 8.50"

Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, Médaille de bronze 2007
Prix du meilleur livre jeunesse - Anskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival, Lauréat 2007

Nokum, ma voix et mon coeur est le récit poétique d’un jeune autochtone qui livre à sa grand-mère son questionnement sur le monde au-delà du contexte rassurant des siens et de sa communauté. Nokum accompagne son petit-fils dans sa quête par des questions l’invitant à reconnaître l’importance pour lui de découvrir le monde au-delà de la réserve et d’y participer. Comprend le livre en français et en cri accompagné de son enregistrement sur CD lu par le talentueux auteur/raconteur sur une trame sonore de chants et tambours du groupe albertain Northern Cree.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: Nokum Is My Teacher

Additional Information
32 pages couleur avec CD
couverture rigide sous jaquette

Ce magnifique livre rassemble les peintures vibrantes de l’artiste métisse Kristy Cameron et les poèmes en rimes de l’auteur métis David Bouchard. Ce poème s’inspire des Sept enseignements sacrés et partage avec nous les profondes leçons que nous pouvons tous apprendre du soleil.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

This book is available in English: We Learn from the Sun

Additional Information
32 pages | 11.16" x 9.13"

Mother Earth, we come from her, we go to her, without her we wouldn't be here, she gives all of us life and because of her we are all one family. In many segments of Indigenous life we speak of Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon. Meet Your Family / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog is a rhythmic poem that will enlighten readers on how to view these important figures and share a greater concept of seeing the world as our natural family.

Rencontre ta famille / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog is presented in both French and Ojibway. An additional softcover book written in Ojibway with a phonetics guide is included inside this hardcover book.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Dual-language French/Ojibwe book. An additional softcover book in Ojibwe with a language learning guide is included inside the hardcover book.

This book offers a spiritual way of looking at all living things on earth as being connected through Mother Nature.

A teacher lesson plan is available for this work: Rencontre ta famille plan de cours 

This book is available in English and Ojibway: Meet Your Family / Gikenim Giniigi'igoog

Additional Information
28 pages | 10.94" x 8.46"

Seven Sacred Teachings is a message of traditional values and hope for the future. The Teachings are universal to most First Nation peoples. These Teachings are seen in school communities from coast to coast across North America. They are a link that ties all Native, Inuit and Métis communities together.

The seven teachings include: respect, humility, love, truth, honesty, wisdom and courage. The stories in the book provide an example of how each teaching came to be.

Educator Information
Seven Sacred Teachings has been produced in several languages. This edition is in English and Ojibwe.

This resource is also available in French: Les Sept enseignements sacrés

Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Our Choice 1997
Communication-Jeunesse, Sélection 2008
Prix de littérature jeunesse Sheila A. Egoff, finaliste 1996

Tous ceux qui connaissent les Prairies pour y être né et y avoir grandi conservent des souvenirs aigres-doux de ce riche terroir, souvenirs qui leur sont aussi chers que les êtres qui les auront marqués.

Si tu n’es pas de la prairie… est un retour en images et en poésie à ces souvenirs d’enfance au pouvoir évocateur. Par sa plume, David Bouchard nous rappelle la force du vent, le ciel infini et le froid mordant. Les magnifiques illustrations de Henry Ripplinger sont des instantanés du passé — parties de hockey sur la rivière, moments de rêvasserie dans les hautes herbes, quête de grenouilles dans l’étang. Grâce à eux, nous découvrons avec nostalgie un lieu et un mode de vie uniques. Voici un baume pour l’esprit et l’âme.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: If You're Not from the Prairie...