Rebecca Reid

After moving from an all-French Indigenous community to the English community of St. George's when he was a little boy, Poppa's life as a young man was very sad. He was treated badly by his schoolteachers and some other children in the town.

Years later, when his grandson wants to bring him into school to play his drum for the class, Poppa is nervous but goes anyway. He is relieved to see he is welcomed and even encouraged to share his knowledge of the traditions and customs of his Mi'kmaw culture.

Thankfully, times have changed from Poppa's generation, and he is pleased to have reconciled with the bad experiences he had when he went to school. Indeed, there is strength and wisdom in Reconciliation!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 12.

This is the first book in the Poppa series.

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

After being invited into his grandson’s school to share his wisdom and knowledge of his traditional Mi’kmaw culture in Poppa and His Drum, Poppa is happy to return as a respected Indigenous Elder and Knowledge Keeper.

In this second book of the Poppa series, we find Poppa giving his next gin’masuti (lesson in our culture) to his grandson, François, and his friends, Paul and Joe.

The boys have an important art project to complete for school and are not sure what to do. While spending the afternoon on a beach adventure with Poppa, the boys get to learn about the Sacred Kitpu (Bald Eagle) and why it’s so important to our Indigenous People.

Poppa engages the children with eager imaginations of how the Sacred Kitpu is not only a powerful spirit guide, but also represents the Spirit of the Creator among us. It is the messenger between Mother Earth and the Spirit World, whispering to the Creator our prayers, touching the face of the Creator with its wing.

Poppa teaches the children through mystic wonder how we use the Sacred Kitpu feather in many different cultural ceremonies. He embraces their eagerness to learn and shares the tradition of smudging, using the Kitpu feather along with Sacred Medicines that burn in a smudge bowl to purify our body, mind, and spirit.

The children delight in discovering Poppa’s never-spoken-of regalia treasures that once belonged to his grandfather and decide to commemorate their art project to the Sacred Kitpu.

Poppa is invited back to the class to award the winning medal to the winners of the arts project. He is proud to present the medals to happy children who truly understand and appreciate the importance of the role the Sacred Kitpu plays in our Mi’kmaw culture and heritage. Poppa and the Sacred Kitpu will delight and surprise the reader with fun and teachings given by the love of a Poppa who is cherished by his community for being such a wonderful Mi’kmaw Elder.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 12.

This book is the second book in the Poppa series, following Poppa and His Drum.

Additional Information
9.00" x 9.00" | Paperback