Métis

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

After helping his Mishoomis (Grandfather) save an orphaned Appaloosa colt from a bog, Jason takes a special interest in caring for it which he names Binesi or Thunderbird. At school, the bullies make fun of his affection for the funnylooking colt he hopes to race one day. They laugh and call him Racin Jason.With support from his Grandparents, Jason raises and trains Binesi. On the day of the big race, Jason and Binesi are ready. The teasing only makes Jason more determined than ever to win.

Additional Information
52 pages | 5.76" x 8.76"

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

This charming story, richly steeped in Métis culture, focuses on the boyhood reminisces of Moushoom as her describes finding the "great giving tree" with his mother and father. The story emphasizes the Métis core values and beliefs including strength, kindness, courage, tolerance, honesty, respect, love, sharing, caring, balance, patience, and most of all, the important connection with the creator and Mother Earth.

Additional Information
50 Pages | 27.9 cm H x 21.5 cm W

Dancing in My Bones, the sequel to the highly successful book Fiddle Dancer, returns us to the story of a young Métis boy named Nolin as he continues to discover his Métis heritage. Lovingly written by Wilfred Burton and Anne Patton and vividly illustrated by Sherry Farrell Racette, Dancing in My Bones will take you on a journey to discover Moushoom's first moose hunt, red lipstick kisses, Uncle Bunny's fiddling, and the return of the "Bannock Jig." But most importantly, by the end of the story, you might feel like you have dancing in your bones!

Includes a CD with English and Michif Narrations of the Story and Fiddle Music!

Educator & Series Information
The trilogy is composed of these three titles: Fiddle Dancer, Dancing In My Bones, and Call of the Fiddle. Dancing in My Bones is the second book in the trilogy.

Michif translations by Normal Fleury.

Additional Information
50 Pages | 27.9 cm H x 21.5 cm W 

Jenneli is a shy young girl who feels that she is nothing special, until she learns about the Métis Red-River Jig from her grandma. One day, Grandma Lucee enters her into a jigging contest. Jenneli's Dance is a story that instills a sense of pride in the Métis culture, and deals with low self-esteem.

Additional Information
44 pages | 7.94" x 9.02"

Fiddle Dancer tells the tale of a young Métis boy, Nolin, and his growing awareness of his Métis heritage and identity while his "Moushoom," or grandfather, teaches him to dance. Authors Wilfred Burton and Anne Patton masterfully weave a childhood story rich in Métis culture and language. This delightful story captures the importance of Elders as role models, a child's apprehension at learning new things, and the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Sherry Farrell Racette provides many beautiful illustrations for the book.

Includes a CD with English and Michif Narrations of the Story and Fiddle Music!

Educator & Series Information
This is the first book in a trilogy composed of these three titles: Fiddle Dancer, Dancing In My Bones, and Call of the Fiddle.

Michif translations by Normal Fleury.

Additional Information
53 Pages | 27.9 cm H x 21.7 cm W

This book profiles ten outstanding women leaders in the Native community. All of these successful, trailblazing women are stellar role models who have raised the profile of indigenous culture in North America. From heroines of the past to women making new history today, this exciting work of nonfiction reminds readers of the extraordinary contributions of Native Americans to our daily lives.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the First Nations Series for Young Readers. Each book is a collection of biographies of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and men who are leaders in their fields of work, in their art, and in their communities. For ages 9-14.

Additional Information 
89 pages | 6.00" x 8.98"

The poems in this book tell stories of animals and nature, from two sweaty hippos, a smiling lizard and some creepy crawlers to a few tricky dandelions. At the end of each poem, find out more in an interview with a key character or a list of fascinating facts.

Reviews
"A terrific book for kids...funny and informative—great to read aloud in a classroom setting. Highly recommended." — CM Magazine

Educator & Seris Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

This book is part of the Orca Echoes series.

Additional Information
64 pages | 5.00" x 7.50" | 16 b&w illustrations | Paperback

Belle, an 11-year-old Métis girl, and Sarah both want the coveted job of church bell ringer. An embroidery contest is held to award the position, and Sarah cheats. Before Belle can expose her, the two are caught up in the advancing forces of General Middleton and his troops as they surround Batoche in the 1885 Riel Rebellion. The church bell disappeared that day and remains missing to this day.

Reviews
"This book can be a starting point for a more in-depth look at the Métis settlement and the struggle which ensued or it can be read just for enjoyment." — Resource Links, September 2004

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Young Readers series, which are award-winning, bestselling chapter books for ages 8–11. Titles in this series include historical and contemporary stories with age-appropriate plots.

Additional Information
144 pages | 5.00" x 7.50"

The year is 1959, and fifteen-year-old Nipishish returns to his Métis reserve in northern Quebec after being kicked out of residential school, where the principal tells him he's a good-for-nothing who, like all Indians, can look forward to a life of drunkenness, prison and despair. 

The reserve, however, offers nothing to Nipishish. He feels even more isolated here. He remembers little of his late mother and father. In fact, he seems to know less about himself than the people at the band office. He must try to rediscover the old ways, face the officials who find him a threat, and learn the truth about his father's death.

Adolescents will find inspiration in his courage to reclaim his identity and claim his rightful place on the reserve. The book also provides great insight into the roots of many ongoing Indigenous issues.

Awards

• Winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 12-15.

Curriculum Connections: Indigenous Studies, History, Geography, Social Sciences, English

Additional Information
256 pages | 4.25" x 7.00" | Written by Michel Noel. Translated by Shelley Tanaka.

This is an endearing story of a young Aboriginal foster child who is given a special gift by his foster mother. Her gift of warmth and thoughtfulness helps her young foster children by encouraging self-esteem, acceptance and love. Written as a simple story, it speaks of a positive foster experience.

Additional Information
16 pages | 8.00" x 6.00" | Paperback

Born in St. Boniface in 1837 of French and Indian parentage, Gabriel Dumont's childhood was spent in the Saskatchewan country, where he grew accustomed to the semi-nomadic existence of the Métis. These were the proud days of the Métis nation, when its people roamed freely throughout the Prairies. The most stable social institution was the annual buffalo hunt with its rules. When Gabriel Dumont became head of the Great Saskatchewan Hunt in 1862 the end of the nomadic lifestyle was already in sight.

As the buffalo herds dwindled, the Métis began to form more permanent settlements, but were alarmed when their pleas for recognition of their land rights were ignored by Sir John A Macdonald's government. Dumont appealed to Louis Riel, leader of the Red River Rebellion.

Riel spoke up for the Saskatchewan Métis, but their petitions were ignored. In 1885, the Métis took up arms against the government forces. Dumont spurred the outnumbered rebels to several victories. After the Métis defeat, Dumont fled to the United States where he spent time with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show until an amnesty was declared and he was able to return to his home.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of The Canadians Series.

Recommended Ages: 10-13 

Additional Information
64 pages | 6.50" x 8.50"

When award-winning writer David Bouchard first saw the work of First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers, he was struck by Vickers' reverence for nature and his understanding of Canada's rugged West Coast. They collaborated on The Elders Are Watching, which-now in its fifth printing-has delighted more than 100,000 readers in four languages. The artwork in this new edition has been restored to match the vibrancy of the originals.

The boy looked much the same as the other kids in his class. New faces arrived almost daily from far away places, so it wasn't his appearance that made him different.

He had always tried his hardest, but try as he might, somehow he didn't seem to be able to get excited about the same things his classmates did. This year would be no different.

And so, as in years gone by, his mother would please him greatly by taking him out of school for a time. Again, she was sending him to live with his grandfather, his 'Ya-A' - to listen, to think and to learn.

'Ya-A' would reintroduce him to the Wind, the Tree and the Earth. 'Ya-A' would speak of responsibilities and of rights. 'Ya-A' would fascinate him with legends of the eagle, the whale, the raven and the wolf.

Of all the tales his grandfather told, none captured his heart more than the stories of the Old Ones - the Elders. And as the stories slowly became a part of him, by the seashore in the clear red sky of early evening, he began to see them.

They appeared as images suspended in the air, up toward the sun. Their lips were still, yet he heard them speak. Their message, like the words of his "Ya-A', was clear and true, a message gone too long without being passed to other hearts.

He and his "Ya-A' would share the words of the Elders often with all those who cared to listen - with all those who cared at all. ...taken from The Elders Are Watching.

Additional Information
56 pages | 10.94" x 9.06" | Hardcover

A vibrantly-illustrated social history of the Metis by artist Sherry Farrell Racette, this book was originally produced as a special project to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the 1885 Resistance. Complete with a glossary, it can be used as a class text, or a storybook. This book is also suitable for use in studying Canada's Aboriginal peoples.

Additional Information
38 Pages | 28 cm x 21.5 cm