Residential Schools / Reconciliation

Shirley is only five years old when she is taken away by the Indian agent to live at a residential school. She loves learning, but she is not there by choice. From the first day walking up the long, lonely stone steps of the school building, life is hard and full of rules. Separated from her brothers and sisters, she is truly on her own.

Shirley is very brave, but there is no one she loves to hold her at night when she is afraid. No one to tuck her in and comfort her. Shirley keeps going despite the sadness. She makes friends and has adventures. And most of all, she looks ahead to summertime, when she will be able to return to her family and the happiness of home.

A true story.

Reviews
"Through powerful words and illustrations, this book honors Shirley’s lived experiences at residential school while also highlighting her advocacy in ensuring that residential school histories are remembered and taught. Shirley offers an accessible entry point into a complex topic while centering Survivor voices. This book is a moving resource for educators and families committed to truth-telling and learning."- Krista McCracken, Researcher & Curator, Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

This book is available in French: Shirley: une histoire de pensionnat indien.

Additional Information
70 Pages | 7" x 8.5|" | Paperback

A beautifully illustrated book that gently explores the complicated feelings a young girl experiences as she learns about tragedy and injustice.

Miya loves her school and she especially loves storytime. One day, her teacher shares a story about a little girl who was taken away to a residential school. The little girl wasn’t allowed to go home. Her hair was cut and she wasn’t allowed to keep her favourite doll. She was taken away from her family because she was Indigenous, just like Miya!

Miya worries the same thing will happen to her. Her mom tells her that Indigenous girls and boys aren’t forced to leave their families anymore. Miya is relieved, but she is still sad. What can she do about these feelings?

Reviews
"A moving and important story that deftly explores the fear a little Indigenous girl feels when she learns the truth about residential schools. Miya finds solace in her mom’s words, and readers will too. A sensitive explanation of residential schools that prioritizes the emotional safety of all readers, especially Indigenous children."— Jen Moss, lecturer at UBC's School of Creative Writing

"opens the door to an important discussion about residential schools" - School Library Journal 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

In this story, a young girl named Miya feels scared and sad after learning about residential schools, but she learns how to cope with the help of her mother. 

A gentle story about big feelings and finding courage.

Big Ideas: Social-Emotional Learning: Emotions and Feelings; Social Justice: Intergenerational Trauma, Residential Schools.

This book is available in French: Le Chandail orange de Miya.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

From the bestselling and Governor General's Award–winning author of On the Trapline comes a beautifully told and comforting picture book about a boy's journey to overcome generational trauma of residential schools.

Deep in the night, when James should be sleeping, he tosses and turns. He thinks about big questions, like why we don't feel dizzy when the Earth spins. He looks at the stars outside his bedroom and thinks about the night sky stories his kōkom has told him. He imagines being a moshom himself. On nights like these, he follows the moonlit path to his mother's bedroom. They talk and they cuddle, and they fall asleep just like that.

One day, James's kōkom takes him on a special walk with a big group of people. It's called a march, and it ends in front of a big pile of things: teddy bears, flowers, tobacco ties and little shoes. Kōkom tells him that this is a memorial in honor of Indigenous children who had gone to residential schools and boarding schools but didn't come home. He learns that his kōkom was sent away to one of these schools with her sister, who also didn't come home.

That night, James can't sleep so he follows the moonlit path to his mother. She explains to James that at residential school when Kōkom felt alone, she had her sister to cuddle, just like they do. And James falls asleep gathered in his mother's arms.

Includes an author note discussing the inspiration for the book.

Reviews
"Robertson (Norway House Cree Nation) sensitively approaches this history, never explicitly describing the horrors of residential schools but instead leaving space for adults to grapple with youngsters’ questions in their own ways. Though he doesn’t provide easy answers, it’s clear that familial love keeps this child buoyed. Suffused with pinks, icy blues, and deep indigos, the glowing, cartoon-style digital illustrations from McKibbin (Ojibwe) depict the ancestral bonds that keep James rooted. Honest yet age-appropriate and deeply uplifting." —Kirkus Reviews

"Cree author Robertson reteams with Ojibwe, Yoeme, and Irish artist McKibbin (The Song That Called Them Home) for this work that honors children who did not return from residential schools. . . . James and his mother’s musing on intergenerational story-sharing further contribute to themes of connection and loss in this emotional work." —Publishers Weekly

"[Robertson and McKibbin] have taken on the weighty task of presenting a catastrophic loss to young readers, but also offering hope and determination. With poetic text and images of family life that are both familiar and mystical in tone, they have achieved this goal. . . . The honesty of Little Shoes is an antidote to fear." —Imaginary Elevators

"[A] big story about generational trauma of residential schools [which] focuses on the comfort that comes from family. Maya McKibbin evokes comfort and discomfort, as well as affection and thoughtfulness, with great sensitivity. . . . [A] great discussion starter for families and classes about residential schools, about Every Child Matters, and about asking questions. But it will also inspire understanding and empathy for that which has happened so that tragedies like residential schools are not repeated." —CanLit for Little Canadians

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

This book is available in French: Petits souliers

Additional Information
48 pages | 8.00" x 12.00" | Hardcover 

In this story, it is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Jen shares her story of healing with the students. 

For a long time, Mi’gmaq were not allowed to speak their language at school. Today, many Mi’gmaq are reconnecting with their language. 

How do you honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation? 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4-7, for use in kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms.

Cedar School Decodables is divided into six sets, which increase in word count and complexity of sentence structure. Elder Jen’s Story is in Set 6 – R-Controlled Vowels, and reviews er, ir, and ur. Books in Set 6 have 110-125 words. 

Readers should be familiar with the concepts included in Set 1 to Set 6: 

• consonants 

• beginning and end blends 

• short, long, and r-controlled vowels 

• digraphs 

• suffixes and ending spelling patterns 

• a /o/ 

• s – /s/ and /z/ 

• VC-CV, V/CV, VC/V, and compound words 

• possessives 

Series Information
Welcome to Cedar School! Join Liv, Tom, Gus, and Bell as they learn on the land and explore Mi’gmaw teachings with their teacher, Miss Sam, and the school’s Mi’gmaw Elder, Jen. With charming illustrations and simple storylines, this decodable series engages students as they practise their reading skills. Each book includes a pre-reading review of non-decodable words, and many of the books introduce special words related to Indigenous teachings. Talking Together prompts facilitate discussions led by the reading teacher. 

Developed in partnership with Dyslexia Canada, Cedar School Decodables is a series of 20 decodable books for young readers. Designed for students who have previously learned short vowel and consonant sounds, additional phonic skills are developed progressively throughout the series.

The series will be accompanied by Cedar School Decodables Teacher’s Guide and a series of four picture books, which will be available at a later date.

Additional Information
16 pages | 6.5” x 5.5” | Paperback | ISBN: 9781771746540

From master Hopi woodcarver Mavasta Honyouti, the story of his grandfather’s experience at a residential boarding school and how he returned home to pass their traditions down to future generations.

When Mavasta Honyouti was a boy he would go with his grandfather to their cornfield, watching him nurture every plant. During breaks, his grandfather would take out a piece of paako root and use his pocketknife to whittle away. He made beautiful carvings that Mavasta would later learn to do himself.

But Mavasta would often wonder: what was his kwa’a like when he was a boy? And one day, he heard the story.

Mavasta’s grandfather, like many Native American children across the country in the late 19th and early 20th century, was forced to leave his Hopi reservation as a child and go to a residential boarding school far away. There, the government cut his hair, punished him for speaking his native language, and gave him a new name. But Mavasta's grandfather never forgot who he was – or where he came from – and he tried to escape again and again. Finally, he made it back to their reservation.

In later years, Mavasta’s kwa’a chose a simple life, taking great care of his family just like he took great care of his plants. His son and later his grandson became acclaimed Hopi katsina woodcarvers, just like him. Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story is a deeply personal book – written in both English and Hopi – that features sixteen stunning original painted wood carvings. It is an unforgettable testament to one man rising above a painful piece of history to keep the light of his family and culture alive.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Dual-language: English and Hopi.

Additional Information
48 pages | 9.00" x 9.20" | Hardcover 

An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history.

Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom’s family lives. But this year is turning out to be an eye-opening one. First, Summer has begun to have vivid dreams in which she's running away from one of the many real-life residential schools that tore Native children from their families and tried to erase their Native identities. Not long after that, she learns that unmarked children’s graves have been discovered at the school her grandpa attended as a child. Now more folks are speaking up about their harrowing experiences at these places, including her grandfather. Summer cherishes her heritage and is heartbroken about all her grandfather was forced to give up and miss out on. When the town holds a rally, she’s proud to take part to acknowledge the painful past and speak of her hopes for the future, and anxious to find someone who can fill her in on the source of her unsettling dreams.

Reviews
“An important middle grade novel about a family reunion, as well as the histories of the Indian residential schools that were set up across the U.S. and Canada. . . . Based on Duncan’s family history, this novel balances an exploration of a painful events with idyllic scenes of intergenerational love and connection. Beautiful descriptions of traditional Native American culture and dress make scenes vivid for readers as Summer’s family rides horses, picks berries, prepares meals, and shares stories, even ones that have remained unspoken. A powerful addition to all middle grade library shelves highlighting a time in history that has been hidden and often forgotten in both Canada and the U.S.” —School Library

“Past and present converge in Duncan's novel about an extended Canadian Cree family spending vacation time together. . . . This story of maturation and involvement in community will appeal to readers interested in the past and in present-day social action.” —Booklist

“Summer is earnest, thoughtful, and unfailingly kind . . . the perfect narrator to introduce a heavy topic that is underexplored in literature for youth. For readers unfamiliar with the schools, enough context is given to understand the immense evil of a system that ripped Indigenous children away from their families to essentially abuse them into being acceptably ‘standard.’ Duncan’s powerful afterward offers a brief description of how her own family survived the harrowing experience of the residential school system, ending the book with a poignant sense of intimacy.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 10+.

Additional Information
128 pages | 5.69" x 8.56" | Hardcover

"Stealing Little Moon is both a moving family saga and an expertly told true story that all Americans should know." —Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated

Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight was four years old when armed federal agents showed up at her home and took her from her family. Under the authority of the government, she was sent away to a boarding school specifically created to strip her of her Ponca culture and teach her the ways of white society. Little Moon was one of thousands of Indigenous children forced to attend these schools across America and give up everything they'd ever known: family, friends, toys, clothing, food, customs, even their language. She would be the first of four generations of her family who would go to the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School.

Dan SaSuWeh Jones chronicles his family's time at Chilocco--starting with his grandmother Little Moon's arrival when the school first opened and ending with him working on the maintenance crew when the school shut down nearly one hundred years later. Together with the voices of students from other schools, both those who died and those who survived, Dan brings to light the lasting legacy of the boarding school era.

Part American history, part family history, Stealing Little Moon is a powerful look at the miseducation and the mistreatment of Indigenous kids, while celebrating their strength, resiliency, and courage--and the ultimate failure of the United States government to erase them.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
304 pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Hardcover 

This book is about residential schools.

Educator Information
Juvenile Nonfiction.

Additional Information
32 Pages | Library Binding 

The uplifting true story of Elizabeth Quocksister, a strong Indigenous woman and community leader, who dedicated her life to protecting her language and cultural traditions.

Elizabeth Quocksister (1925–81) had many roles in her life. She was a cultural teacher, a community leader, a dancer, a nurse, a photographer, a residential school survivor, and a mother of ten. Born on the Da’naxda’xw Nation on Knight Inlet on the central coast of British Columbia, Elizabeth spoke fluent Kwak’wala and proudly celebrated her Kwakwaka’wakw culture at a time when the Canadian government actively discouraged Indigenous traditions and the speaking of Indigenous languages. She cared for community members in need and saved many children from the horrors of residential school. She chronicled the daily lives, important events, and changing times of her community through photography—preserving her people’s history and culture for future generations. This inspiring picture book is a beautiful tribute to a proud Indigenous woman whose name deserves to be well-known throughout her community and beyond.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Miikwan and Dez are in their final year of high school. Poised at the edge of the rest of their lives, they have a lot to decide on. Miikwan and her boyfriend, Riel, are preparing for university, but Dez isn’t sure if that’s what they want for their future.

Grief and anger take precedence over their plans after the remains of 215 children are found at a former residential school in British Columbia. The teens struggle with feelings of helplessness in the face of injustice. Can they find the strength to channel their frustration into action towards a more hopeful future?

We Are the Medicine is the moving final volume of the best-selling Surviving the City series.

Reviews
"Tasha's graphic novel gives us an unflinching view of youth sovereignty and the reclamation of Indigenous philosophy and sacred spaces in Winnipeg's core. Guided by an Elder, the friends at the centre of the story confront uncomfortable truths that have sustained our colonial past, riding on the edge of emotions and activism to uphold the integrity of their ancestors. A must-read for all youth who want to build an equitable, just society." — Elder Albert McLeod, author of Between the Pipes

“A fantastic read for teens to learn about Indigenous issues through a clear and accurate representation.” — Youth Services Book Review

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 12 to 18.

This is the third volume in the Surviving the City graphic novel series, which is also part of the Debwe Series. 

Surviving the City is a contemporary graphic novel series about young Indigenous women navigating their way in an urban environment. It includes:

Surviving the City
From the Roots Up
We Are the Medicine 

A Teacher Guide is available: Surviving the City Teacher Guide: Exploring Identity, Allyship, and Social Action for Meaningful Change in Grades 7-12 

Recommended in the Indigenous Books for Schools catalogue as a valuable resource for English Language Arts and Social Studies in grades 8 to 12. 

Caution: This work's topics include residential schools, death, violence, police brutality, and racism.

Themes: Coming of Age, Community, Connection to Culture, Healing, Residential Schools.

Additional Information
64 pages | 6.50" x 10.00" | Paperback

Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential school.

While the child’s internal monologue expresses his fear, confusion, and loss, the father’s monologue conveys his own sadness, fears, and hopes for the future of his child. The narrative gives voice to the things left unsaid between a parent and child experiencing this heart-rending separation. Upon his return to his community, when father and son are reunited, they must start the long process of reconnection.

Based on the author’s family history of residential school separation, this book provides a unique perspective on the difficult cycle of loss, reconnection, and regaining hope for the future.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Infroamtion
40 pages | 9.00" x 8.00" | Hardcover 

Larry Loyie, award-winning Cree author, educator, and playwright writes honestly, tenderly, with laughter as well as sadness about his traditional childhood interrupted by six years in residential school. Three books in the Lawrence Series are included in Young Man, True Stories of a Cree Childhood. This book includes 53 photographs from the author’s life.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 4 to 9.

This anthology includes three books:

• Goodbye Buffalo Bay
• The Moon Speaks Cree
• When the Spirits Dance

Additional Information
200 Pages | Paperback 

Readers are invited to jump into a canoe to learn about residential schools in Canada and the special day for truth and reconciliation. Author Dawn Sii-yaa-ilth-supt Smith is Nuu-chah-nulth and attended Tsartlip Indian Day School in British Columbia. She shares her story and the importance of truth-telling and reconciliation in Canada.

Educator & Series Information
Juvenile Nonfiction

This book is part of the Indigenous Communities in Canada series.

This book is available in French: La Journee nationale de la verite et de la reconciliation 

Additional Information
24 Pages

This informative and inspiring picture book by acclaimed author Kim Rogers (Wichita), with striking artwork by debut illustrator Bobby Von Martin (Choctaw), celebrates the achievements of Clarence Tinker, a member of the Osage Nation who became the first Native American major general.

Clarence Tinker always knew that he wanted to do something extraordinary. Something adventurous. Something that made a difference in the world.

But as a member of the Osage Nation at the turn of the twentieth century, there were a lot of obstacles that he had to face to achieve his dreams. When he was a child, Clarence was taken away from his family and community. He was forced to attend a prisonlike boarding school, like many other Native children of his generation. There, he wasn’t able to speak his language or practice his Osage customs.

Still, Clarence kept his dream close to his heart and joined the US Army with the goal of becoming an officer. Though he was treading an unfamiliar path, he worked hard and never forgot his Osage values and traditions that, ultimately, paved his way to success.

I Am Osage, the first nonfiction project from the Heartdrum imprint, combines gorgeous, vibrant artwork with a stirring text that celebrates an unsung hero while also shedding light on significant American history.

Features an author’s note and timeline.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.00" x 11.00" | Hardcover 

Orange Shirt Day, observed annually on September 30th, is also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an official day to honour Residential School Survivors and their families, and to remember the children who did not come home. What was initially envisioned as a way to keep the conversations going about all aspects of Residential Schools in Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region of British Columbia, Canada, has now expanded into a movement across Turtle Island and beyond. Orange Shirt Day: September 30th aims to create champions who will walk a path of reconciliation and promote the message that 'Every Child Matters'. This award-winning book explores a number of important topics including the historical, generational, and continual impacts of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples, the journey of the Orange Shirt Day movement, and how you can effectively participate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. With end of chapter reflection questions and a series of student art submissions, readers are guided to explore how they, and others, view and participate in Residential School reconciliation.

Awards

• 2021 First Nation Communities Read 2021 Winner 

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 10+

Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the story of a survivor named Phyllis Webstad. When Phyllis was 6 years old she went to residential school for the first time wearing a brand new shiny orange shirt. When she arrived at the school her shirt was taken away and never to be seen again. To Phyllis the colour orange was a symbol that she did not matter. Today she has learned to accept the colour and even have fun with it and now the orange shirt has become a symbol of hope and reconciliation. By wearing an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day, you make a powerful statement that residential schools were wrong and commit to the concept that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

The Orange Shirt Society is a non-profit organization with its home in Williams Lake, BC where Orange Shirt Day began in 2013. The society has both Indigenous and non-Indigenous board members, and one of the editors of this book, Phyllis Webstad, is Indigenous.  Therefore, the Authentic Indigenous Text label has been applied. It is up to readers to determine if this book is authentic for their purposes.

This is the Revised 2023, 2nd Edition

Additional Information
156 pages | 8.23" x 11.06" | Revised, 2nd Edition

Naaahsa says art is a language everyone understands. Sometimes we make art together. We draw, we bead, we sing. Sometimes Naaahsa tells stories in Blackfoot. I even get to go with her to see her art show at the National Gallery. Naaahsa is famous for her art, but I love her hugs best!

Naaahsa is an Artist! is a celebration of art, artists, and Indigenous women artists in particular. Each page comes to life with bold patterns, shapes, and Naaahsa's encouraging words that may inspire young readers to want to make art themselves.

Reviews
“What a marvelous and sparkling read. How blessed are we to have Naaahsa’s wisdom for how inspiration is everywhere and, if you welcome and embrace it, the magic of the world is yours to celebrate your way in any way you wish. Thank you, Hali Heavy Shield, for sharing Naaahsa’s warmth and love. Every page feels like a hug from home.” — Richard Van Camp, author of Little You and We Sang You Home

“This book is sure to be a hit. As seen through the eyes of a grandchild, Naaahsa is an Artist! conveys the healing power of art and the importance of taking up space in institutions that have not welcomed Indigenous Peoples in the past.” — Nancy Cooper, First Nations Consultant for the Southern Ontario Library Services and coordinator for First Nation

“I love the grandmother/granddaughter relationship here and I love how proud the little girl is of her grandma. It’s a book I can relate to as I had a close relationship with my grandmother.” — Jodie Callaghan, author of Ga’s/The Train

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

This book is available in a dual-language format: Naaahsa Aisinaki! / Naaahsa is an Artist!

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

Naaahsa says art is a language everyone understands. Sometimes we make art together. We draw, we bead, we sing. Sometimes Naaahsa tells stories in Blackfoot. I even get to go with her to see her art show at the National Gallery. Naaahsa is famous for her art, but I love her hugs best!

Naaahsa is an Artist! is a celebration of art, artists, and Indigenous women artists in particular. Each page comes to life with bold patterns, shapes, and Naaahsa's encouraging words that may inspire young readers to want to make art themselves.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Dual-language edition in English and Blackfoot: Kainai Nation

Blackfoot translation by Norma Jean Russell and Faye Heavy Shield.

This book is available in English: Naaahsa is an Artist!

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

Learn the meaning behind the phrase, ‘Every Child Matters.'

Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad, offers insights into this heartfelt movement.

Every Child Matters honours the history and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island and moves us all forward on a path toward Truth and Reconciliation.

If you're a Residential School Survivor or an Intergenerational Survivor - you matter. For the children who didn't make it home - you matter. The child inside every one of us matters. Every Child Matters.

Reviews
"Every Child Matters speaks to all Indigenous Peoples - past and present - whose lives have been impacted by the residential school system. Phyllis and Karlene beautifully honour the unity, strength and resolve shared by Survivors, their families and their communities. Residential schools took our children and tried to break their vibrant spirits. With this book, the children of today can learn the truths of this history and how they can play a part in making sure every child matters." – Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation

“…a brilliantly illustrated and meticulously written narrative. It is a must read.” -  Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk, Elder, Reconciliation Canada

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

Find the accompanying Teacher Lesson Plan resource HERE!

This book is available in French: Chaque enfant compte

Additional Information
44 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Hardcover 

After Haywaas sees his parents get frustrated while watching the news, this precocious 12-year-old begins a months-long journey navigating many different answers to what he thought was a simple question.

Expertly crafted by a teacher-parent-author duo, Haywaas’ Question is relatable, understandable, and aptly builds up to an answer we’re all a part of.

Educator Information
The publisher recommends this picture book for Grades 4 - 10. 

This book is available in French: La Question de Haywaas: Qu'est-ce que la réconciliation? 

Additional Information
36 pages | 7.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

The true story of how Indigenous girls at a Canadian residential school sewed secret pockets into their dresses to hide food and survive

Mary was four years old when she was first taken away to the Lejac Indian Residential School. It was far away from her home and family. Always hungry and cold, there was little comfort for young Mary. Speaking Dakelh was forbidden and the nuns and priest were always watching, ready to punish. Mary and the other girls had a genius idea: drawing on the knowledge from their mothers, aunts and grandmothers who were all master sewers, the girls would sew hidden pockets in their clothes to hide food. They secretly gathered materials and sewed at nighttime, then used their pockets to hide apples, carrots and pieces of bread to share with the younger girls.

Based on the author's mother's experience at residential school, The Secret Pocket is a story of survival and resilience in the face of genocide and cruelty. But it's also a celebration of quiet resistance to the injustice of residential schools and how the sewing skills passed down through generations of Indigenous women gave these girls a future, stitch by stitch.

Awards

• 2023 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society (SCWES) Book Awards for BC Authors joint winner
• 2024 Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award

Reviews
“In bringing her mother’s story to the world, Peggy Janicki has ignited a powerful fire for intergenerational healing. A vivid illustration of how Traditional Knowledge helped the children at residential schools be heroes for themselves and each other. Not only has Janicki meticulously documented everyday life as experienced by the students of the Lejac residential school but she has also highlighted their ingenious and courageous efforts to survive. Strengths-based, age-appropriate and vividly engaging.”— Christy Jordan-Fenton, award-winning author of Fatty Legs

“Beautifully illustrated and powerfully narrated, The Secret Pocket amplifies the voices and experiences of Indian Residential School Survivors. In doing so, Peggy Janicki and Carrielynn Victor make an important contribution to the work of putting truth before reconciliation.”— Sean Carleton, historian and author of Lessons in Legitimacy: Colonialism, Capitalism, and the Rise of State Schooling in British Columbia

“In this important story of courage and resistance, educator Peggy Janicki shares the story of her mother and other Survivors who sewed secret pockets into their dresses to hide food to feed themselves and others at Lejac residential school. We need to continue to hear these stories and share them with our children so we can move forward in our collective healing.”— Dr. Sara Florence Davidson, co-author of Potlach as Pedagogy: Learning Through Ceremony

“It is through stories that knowledge, understanding, empathy and the tools for deep and lasting change are passed on. Peggy Janicki has carried her mother’s story for us to hold in our hearts. This truth-telling and history-sharing will touch readers of all ages as they allow themselves to feel the weight of this powerful book.”— Amber Price, MGC, owner of The Book Man

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

This book is available in French: La poche secrète.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75" | Hardcover 

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

From the award-winning and bestselling author of We Are Water Protectors comes an empowering picture book about family history, self-expression, and reclaiming your identity

Our ancestors say our hair is our memories,
our source of strength and power,
a celebration of our lives.

Mom never had long hair—she was told it was too wild. Grandma couldn’t have long hair—hers was taken from her. But one young girl can’t wait to grow her hair long: for herself, for her family, for her connection to her culture and the Earth, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.

From Carole Lindstrom, author of the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner We Are Water Protectors, and debut illustrator Steph Littlebird comes an empowering and healing celebration of hair and its significance across Indigenous cultures.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
48 pages | 9.00" x 11.00" | Hardcover 

CRITR provides dozens of lessons and 100s of questions covering important topics including: Indigenous Canadian History, Residential Schools, Indigenous Contributions past and present, Treaties, and Indigenous Days of Recognition in Canada.

This book is a collection of parts of the history of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada and of the process of reconciliation.  It is designed to educate all children and youth -- our future leaders -- about Indigenous history and current events.  It is intended to give a better understanding and to positively contribute to reconciliation.

Together, we must consider the past, the present, and the future in our efforts to better ourselves and future generations.

This book provides a wealth of high-quality articles and learning activities, consisting of units and lessons that can be used by anyone -- teachers, parents, students, business professionals -- who may have little or no prior knowledge or understanding of Indigenous Peoples or subjects.

In this book, you will meet real Indigenous Peoples speaking out and sharing their stories and their firsthand experiences, and you will clearly hear their passion for reconciliation.

This book is unique. The stories told within its covers are unique, just like everyone working through their own journey of understanding and doing their small part towards reconciliation.

“We need to pursue reconciliation consistently and passionately. Education has gotten us into this mess, and education will get us out. We see this as our challenge and our hope.” -The Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 5 to 7.

CRITR Workbook Features

• Indigenous knowledge from different Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous perspectives.
• Dozens of lessons covering important topics including Residential Schools, Treaties, and Indigenous Contributions.
• Beautiful original art on the cover and throughout the book.
• An Indigenous worldview expressing people's need to develop themselves and their children, in a way that addresses their spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental gifts.
• An approach to the teaching and healing process that is interconnected and cyclical in nature.
• An introduction to readers of the concept of a "sacred circle," also known as a medicine wheel, as well as First Peoples' principles of learning in general terms.
• Words of encouragement.
• A balance between too much and too little content.
• Information and a layout to inform and inspire without overwhelming the teacher or the student, in the classroom or at home.
• Fresh insights and learning activities for key Indigenous events that are celebrated annually in schools and communities across the Nation.
• Critical thinking questions to inspire new learning.
• Activities for individuals and groups.
• The font in the grade 5 to 7 book is ideal for young readers ( Arial 13.5-point font). Additionally, the grade 5 to 7 book features shorter sentence structure for easy reading and comprehension. 
• A few activities and lessons featured in the grade 8 to 12 resource have been changed or removed in the grade 5 to 7 book due to the maturity level of the subject matter.  
• Grade-level appropriate word choices to help with improved vocabulary.

How is the CRITR workbook organized?

Each lesson follows this pattern:

• An easy-to-read lesson that may be read in under 5 minutes
• A vocabulary focus called Word Power that defines key words from the lesson
• A set of questions easily answered from the reading
• A Critical Thinking section is included to enhance learning
• Sprinkled throughout the CRITR Workbook are relevant individual and group activity recommendations.

Additional resources are identified throughout the pages with links, including information about how to connect with the Indigenous authors and artists.

Activities, colouring, and word search pages may be downloaded for free. An answer key is included at the end of the book.

What will students learn from this resource?

• Reconciliation is about change, justice, respect, and re-building the relationships between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• Indigenous History of Canada
• Empathy that comes from understanding and being educated
• Knowledge about important and sensitive topics, including stories told by Indigenous authors about what occurred at residential schools. It is important to know these stories of assimilation
• Capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect as prescribed specifically in CTA #63

Educator Information

Additional Information
176 Pages | 9" x 11.5" x 0.5" | Spiral Bound 

A vivid dream teaches Little Wolf about courage and acceptance of those who are different, and inspires her to show her daughters and their classmates how to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds.

Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture. Little Wolf’s own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community. Told with powerful imagery and symbolism, Abalone Woman is the third book in the Little Wolf series, which presents themes of racism, trauma, and family unity through relatable, age-appropriate narratives.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

This is the third book in the Little Wolf series.

This book is available in French: Femme Ormeau

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

This is the true story behind a song that was once a hymn remembered from residential school. With the help of his family and community, especially the determination of his son, and encouraging words of his Grandmother, Knowledge Keeper Quuia Charleson (Nuu-Chah-Nulth), has reclaimed Love Your Creator and continues to share both the song and its story through oral tradition at events and on travels. Engaging illustrations by Stefan Brunette passionately portray the people and events in this exciting picture book for all ages. Discover the story and learn the strength of a song.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 12.

This book is available in French: Aime ton Créateur: L'histoire d'une chanson de prière.

Additional Information
36 pages | 10.00" x 8.00" | Paperback

Lorrie Gallant from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan, retells the story of Dawn V. Hill’s experiences in residential school in the book, The Day I Became Number 54. Life was happy and carefree for Dawn and her family then she and her siblings went to residential school and everything changed. She was separated from her siblings, numbers were put on everything, and everyone had to line up. Survival was key. This compelling story was written to let everyone know the truth about residential schools. Lorrie Gallant writer and artist brings relief images to life through plasticene.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 6.

Additional Information
52 Pages 

An honest look at life in an Indian residential school in the 1950s, and how one indomitable young spirit survived it — 30th anniversary edition.

Seepeetza loves living on Joyaska Ranch with her family. But when she is six years old, she is driven to the town of Kalamak, in the interior of British Columbia. Seepeetza will spend the next several years of her life at an Indian residential school. The nuns call her Martha and cut her hair. Worst of all, she is forbidden to “talk Indian,” even with her sisters and cousins.

Still, Seepeetza looks for bright spots — the cookie she receives at Halloween, the dance practices. Most of all, there are her memories of holidays back at the ranch — camping trips, horseback riding, picking berries and cleaning fish with her mother, aunt and grandmother. Always, thoughts of home make school life bearable.

Based on her own experiences at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, this powerful novel by Nlaka’pamux author Shirley Sterling is a moving account of one of the most blatant expressions of racism in the history of Canada.

Includes a new afterword by acclaimed Cree author Tomson Highway of the Barren Lands First Nation in northern Manitoba.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Key Text Features: afterword, dialogue, journal entries, maps.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Includes a new afterword by acclaimed Cree author Tomson Highway of the Barren Lands First Nation in northern Manitoba.

Additional Information
128 pages | 5.10" x 7.50"

An empowering story of resistance that gently introduces children to the history of residential schools in Canada.

A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As she asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.

When We Were Alone won the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award in the Young People's Literature (Illustrated Books) category, and was nominated for the TD Canadian's Children's Literature Award. This edition includes the text in Swampy Cree syllabics and Roman orthography, as well as the original English.

Reviews
"When We Were Alone is a story about finding the strength to push forward when everything is against you. It follows a young girl asking her grandmother questions to learn more about her past. The grandmother shares her experience of a time when she was unable to make her own decisions and how she got through it." — The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

This edition includes the text in Swampy Cree syllabics and Roman orthography, as well as the original English.

Translated by Alderick Leask.  Alderick Leask is a respected Swampy Cree language instructor originally from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Manitoba. His experience includes conducting classes in Native Studies, Native Cultures, Native Languages and Canadian History from the Indigenous perspective using Traditional Elders’ Knowledge (TEK) and land-based learning. Mr. Leask places Creation and its bounties as his background in instructing students when learning basic outdoor survival skills. His usage of the functional and descriptive language of Swampy Cree demonstrates its practicality.

This book is available in an English-only format: When We Were Alone

This resource is also available in French: Quand on etait seuls

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.50" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

Little Wolf, grown up with children of her own, moves to the country where her mother, White Raven, shares a sad story from her childhood.

All grown up with a family of her own, Little Wolf moves from the big city to the island of her ancestors. She wants to share the beauty and mysteries of nature with her children, and she wants them to learn as much about their culture as possible. One day, Little Wolf’s mother, White Raven, visits and begins to tell her grandchildren stories from her own childhood. But the stories are not happy ones. As a child, White Raven left her family to attend St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay, BC. While there, she experienced hunger, loneliness, shame, and isolation from her language and her culture. Even years later, as a grown woman and Elder, she has nightmares about her time at the school. But by sharing her story with Little Wolf and her grandchildren, White Raven begins to heal and brings the family closer together. Through simple, heartfelt text and vivid illustrations that combine contemporary and traditional Indigenous motifs, White Raven is an engaging teaching tool as well as a relatable narrative about the impact of intergenerational trauma on families. Based on the author’s own life and her mother’s residential school experience, the central message of this book is one of healing and family unity.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

This is the second book in the Little Wolf trilogy. 

This book is available in French: Corbeau Blanc

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

For more than 150 years, thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools across Canada.

Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art—a collection of hundreds of objects from those schools. It includes everything from photos, bricks, hockey skates, graduation certificates, dolls and piano keys to braids of hair. Behind every piece is a story. And behind every story is a residential school Survivor, including Carey's father. This book is a collection of truths about what happened at those schools, but it's also a beacon of hope and a step on the journey toward reconciliation.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
112 pages | 7.50" x 9.00" | Hardcover

An educational and heartfelt retelling of the story of the Mi'kmaq and their traditional lands, Mi'kma'ki, for young readers, focused on the generational traumas of the Indian Residential School System.

"The story of the Mi'kmaw people is one that very few truly know, Ladybug. Even fewer understand what happened at the residential schools. It is a hard story to tell, but you must know the truth. Sit and I will tell you the story."

When seven-year-old Muinji'j comes home from school one day, her Nana and Papa can tell right away that she's upset. Her teacher has been speaking about the residential schools. Unlike most of her fellow students, Muinji'j has always known about the residential schools. But what she doesn't understand is why the schools existed and why children would have died there.

Nana and Papa take Muinji'j aside and tell her the whole story, from the beginning. They help her understand all of the decisions that were made for the Mi'kmaq, not with the Mi'kmaq, and how those decisions hurt her people. They tell her the story of her people before their traditional ways were made illegal, before they were separated and sent to reservations, before their words, their beliefs, and eventually, their children, were taken from them.

A poignant, honest, and necessary book featuring brilliant artwork from Mi'kmaw artist Zeta Paul and words inspired by Muinji'j MacEachern's true story, Muinji'j Asks Why will inspire conversation, understanding, and allyship for readers of all ages.

Educator Information
Juvenile Nonfiction 

Additional Information
40 pages | Paperback

Sept 30th has become widely known as National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.

This day was chosen as the date for National Truth and Reconciliation Day because September is when many Indigenous children were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend residential schools.

Join Nuttah and Kitchi as they honour and remember the tens of thousands of residential school survivors and the children who did not survive the residential schools.

Written by Indigenous author and educator Sandra Samatte, Ojibwe - Saulteaux - from Skownan First Nation Treaty 2 Territory and illustrated by Julian Grafenauer, Ojibwe from Rolling River First Nation.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 1 to 4.  

Additional Information
32 pages | Paperback

The dual-language edition, in English and Mi'gmaq, of the Silver Birch Express-nominated title, The Train.

Ashley meets her great-uncle by the old train tracks near their community in Nova Scotia. Ashley sees his sadness, and Uncle tells her of the day years ago when he and the other children from their community were told to board the train before being taken to residential school where their lives were changed forever. They weren't allowed to speak Mi'gmaq and were punished if they did. There was no one to give them love and hugs and comfort. Uncle also tells Ashley how happy she and her sister make him. They are what give him hope. Ashley promises to wait with her uncle by the train tracks, in remembrance of what was lost.

Educator Information
This is the dual-language (Mi'gmaq and English) version of The Train.

Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Translated by Joe Wilmot | Hardcover

A collection of authentic Orange Shirt Day books from the founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement, Phyllis Webstad. Package includes four books and three accompanying lesson plans, The Orange Shirt Story, Phyllis's Orange Shirt, Orange Shirt Day and Beyond the Orange Shirt Story.

Educator Information
Includes picture books for children, as well as books for young adults.  Review individual titles for more information about each include:

• The Orange Shirt Story
• Phyllis's Orange Shirt
• Orange Shirt Day
• Beyond the Orange Shirt Story

Additional Information
9.00" x 12.00"

The thrilling follow-up to the bestselling, award-winning novel The Marrow Thieves, about a dystopian world where the Indigenous people of North America are being hunted for their bone marrow and ability to dream.

Years ago, when plagues and natural disasters killed millions of people, much of the world stopped dreaming. Without dreams, people are haunted, sick, mad, unable to rebuild. The government soon finds that the Indigenous people of North America have retained their dreams, an ability rumored to be housed in the very marrow of their bones. Soon, residential schools pop up—or are re-opened—across the land to bring in the dreamers and harvest their dreams.

Seventeen-year-old French lost his family to these schools and has spent the years since heading north with his new found family: a group of other dreamers, who, like him, are trying to build and thrive as a community. But then French wakes up in a pitch-black room, locked in and alone for the first time in years, and he knows immediately where he is—and what it will take to escape. 

Meanwhile, out in the world, his found family searches for him and dodges new dangers—school Recruiters, a blood cult, even the land itself. When their paths finally collide, French must decide how far he is willing to go—and how many loved ones is he willing to betray—in order to survive. This engrossing, action-packed, deftly-drawn novel expands on the world of Cherie Dimaline’s award-winning The Marrow Thieves, and it will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

Reviews
"Lush, devastating, and hope-filled novel. . . . The action never lets up and is inextricably intertwined with the personal and community histories of the diverse characters who band together from various nations. Dimaline paints a nightmarish world that is too easy to imagine; it will haunt readers long after they turn the final page." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Dimaline has created vivid characters who propel a suspenseful and atmospheric story that boldly brings past, and ongoing, darkness to light." ―Booklist

"The brutal realities faced by French in the residential school will leave readers thinking about what Indigenous people endured in the residential schools of the past. The idea of storytelling and the importance of realizing that the past and present are interwoven is beautifully conveyed and will keep readers anxious for what comes next." ―School Library Journal

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 12+

This book is available in French: Chasseurs d'étoiles

This book is part of the Marrow Thieves series.

Mature Content Warning: Hunting by Stars touches on physical and sexual violence. 

Additional Information
408 pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Paperback

Dear Jean,
I had a substitute teacher recently. He stood up for a girl wearing a cedar hat when she was told to take it off by the vice-principal…

Even though Jean and Michael come from different cultural backgrounds and live far apart, they are best friends. To keep in touch, they write letters. Read their letters to discover what Jean and Michael do when they see and experience racial prejudice in their communities.

I Wish You Were Here is based on the authors' childhood experiences as pen pals in Haida Gwaii and Terrace in northern British Columbia. The book explores themes of friendship, culture, family, and community. It also addresses some tough issues, such as racism and intolerance, and explores ways to respond proactively. Included are resources and discussion questions to encourage further learning and reflection.

Reviews
“This lovely book explores healthy strategies for addressing racism and discrimination, including ceremonies, art, and intercultural allies. It is necessary reading for fostering the reconciliation and Indigenous resurgence that is imperative for our collective growth and enlightenment.” – Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, musician, author, activist, artist, and lawyer 

“This book helps us to empower our children and each other in the important work of recognizing, talking about, and working through acts of racism.” – Severn Cullis-Suzuki, lifelong activist for intergenerational justice 

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 7.

This middle-grade picture book includes discussion questions, a glossary, and additional resources for further learning and reflection.

Curriculum Connections & Keywords: Reconciliation, Indigenous Education, Social Awareness and Responsibility, Social Studies, Allyship, Racism, Anti-Racism, Discrimination, Social Justice, Racial Injustice, Haida, Haida Gwaii, Gwaii Haanas National Park, Tsimshian, Terrace, Letter Writing, Pen Pals, Friendship, Diversity, Child Empowerment, Advocacy, Inclusivity.

This book provides readers the opportunity to look at racism and discrimination through two different cultural lenses.  It's a teaching tool to initiate conversations about issues such as racism, discrimination, and reconciliation.

In the video below, Erica Jean Reid Gidin Jaad shares how to pronounce Haida and Tsimshian words in I Wish You Were Here.

Additional Information
32 Pages | 6.5" x 9.5" | Hardcover | ISBN: 9781771745727

Based on the true story of the author’s biological mother and aunt, this middle-grade novel traces the long and frightening journey of two Kaska Dena sisters as they are taken from their home to attend residential school.

When Maddy discovers an old photograph of two little girls in her grandmother’s belongings, she wants to know who they are. Nan reluctantly agrees to tell her the story, though she is unsure if Maddy is ready to hear it. The girls in the photo, Aggie and Mudgy, are two Kaska Dena sisters who lived many years ago in a remote village on the BC–Yukon border. Like countless Indigenous children, they were taken from their families at a young age to attend residential school, where they endured years of isolation and abuse.

As Nan tells the story, Maddy asks many questions about Aggie and Mudgy’s 1,600-kilometre journey by riverboat, mail truck, paddlewheeler, steamship, and train, from their home to Lejac Residential School in central BC. Nan patiently explains historical facts and geographical places of the story, helping Maddy understand Aggie and Mudgy’s transitional world. Unlike many books on this subject, this story focuses on the journey to residential school rather than the experience of attending the school itself. It offers a glimpse into the act of being physically uprooted and transported far away from loved ones. Aggie and Mudgy captures the breakdown of family by the forces of colonialism, but also celebrates the survival and perseverance of the descendants of residential school survivors to reestablish the bonds of family.

Awards

• City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize 2022

Educator Information
Middle-grade novel recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
144 pages | 5.50" x 8.00" | Paperback

I'm finding my talk
And it may take some time,
But I'm learning to speak
In a language that's mine.

A response to Rita Joe's iconic poem "I Lost My Talk," and published simultaneously with the new children's book edition illustrated by Pauline Young, comes a companion picture book by award-winning spoken-word artist and Mi'kmaw activist Rebecca Thomas. A second-generation residential school survivor, Thomas writes this response poem openly and honestly, reflecting on the process of working through the destructive effects of colonialism.

From sewing regalia to dancing at powow to learning traditional language, I'm Finding My Talk is about rediscovering her community, and finding culture. Features stunning, vibrant illustrations by Mi'kmaw artist Pauline Young.

Reviews
"Published as a companion to the picture book I Lost My Talk, featuring the famous poem by Rita Joe, both volumes explore the legacy of Canada’s residential schools. They feature vibrant illustrations by Pauline Young that bring the words alive with emotional nuance. This remarkable pair of books possesses the rare ability of being suited to readers of all ages: three to six-year-olds, the traditional intended audience of picture books, will be captivated by the bright, lively illustrations; elementary and middle school children will find their Social Studies curriculum enriched by experiencing these important concepts rendered creatively; teens and adults will gain insight and empathy by enjoying these beautiful poems." - CM Reviews

"[A]n honest reflection on the process of working through the destructive effects of colonialism by participating in cultural connections. This book offers the opportunity to show the journey one takes when rediscovering their community and culture." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 9.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 1-3 in the areas of Social Studies and Language Arts.

Former Halifax Poet Laureate and second-generation residential school survivor Rebecca Thomas writes honestly and powerfully in this companion piece to Rita Joe's I Lost My Talk. Includes vibrant illustrations from Mi'kmaw artist Pauline Young.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 10.00"

Twelve Native American kids present historical and contemporary laws, policies, struggles, and victories in Native life, each with a powerful refrain: We are still here!

Too often, Native American history is treated as a finished chapter instead of relevant and ongoing. This companion book to the award-winning We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga offers readers everything they never learned in school about Native American people's past, present, and future. Precise, lyrical writing presents topics including: forced assimilation (such as boarding schools), land allotment and Native tribal reorganization, termination (the US government not recognizing tribes as nations), Native urban relocation (from reservations), self-determination (tribal self-empowerment), Native civil rights, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), religious freedom, economic development (including casino development), Native language revival efforts, cultural persistence, and nationhood.

Reviews
"Students at the Native Nations Community School share presentations about the history, present, and future of Indigenous communities. The vivid artwork features a simple, bold style. The narrative starts with a general introduction of Native Nations in the United States. Each presentation contains illustrations with the student’s name, an overview of the subject, a brief list of the impact that the concept or historical moment had on Native American people, and the refrain “We Are Still Here!” The last pages show students and their families with a variety of skin tones and physical abilities studying the presentations on topics that include sovereign rights and relocation. Additional information, a timeline, a glossary, sources, and an author’s note offer further context. The lyrical text and jewel-tone illustrations elegantly work together to stirringly portray the ongoing fight for Native American recognition and rights. VERDICT An essential purchase for introducing the impact laws and treaties had and continue to have on Native Nations." —School Library Journal, starred review

"In this meticulously researched nonfiction picture book, Sibert honorees Sorell and Lessac team up once again to answer this question: What has happened to Native Nations and their citizens after the treaties with the U.S. government ended in 1871? Lessac’s trademark colorful, folk-art–style illustrations show a Native American community school with a classroom of diverse students preparing for presentations at the Indigenous People’s Day assembly. Spread by spread, each child speaks, featured words and terms highlighting the journey Native Nations have taken to reclaim their land and rights. They show why Indigenous people say, “We are still here!” In the “Assimilation” presentation, Native children are dressed in militarylike uniforms, showing how U.S. leaders used schooling to destroy Native traditions. Dividing plots of tribal land for “Allottment” left much treaty land open for public sale. With “Termination” and “Relocation,” Native people were encouraged to leave their tribal lands and “act more like white people.” But Indigenous people say, “We are still here!” and the narrative arc turns to emphasize resilience. When activists speak up and organize, it strengthens tribal sovereignty. The tribes “protect and provide for future generations” by holding on to their traditional ceremonies, opening businesses to support their tribal members, and reviving their tribal languages. The illustrations, too, change their tenor, modulating from historical wrongs to emphasize contemporary strength, community, and joy. An emphatic, triumphant declaration: “WE ARE STILL HERE!”" —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

This book has a Native American focus.

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.88" x 10.81"

I lost my talk
The talk you took away
When I was a little girl
At Shubenacadie school.

One of Rita Joe's most influential poems, "I Lost My Talk" tells the revered Mi'kmaw Elder's childhood story of losing her language while a resident of the residential school in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. An often quoted piece in this era of truth and reconciliation, Joe's powerful words explore and celebrate the survival of Mi'kmaw culture and language despite its attempted eradication.

A companion book to the simultaneously published I'm Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas, I Lost My Talk is a necessary reminder of a dark chapter in Canada's history, a powerful reading experience, and an effective teaching tool for young readers of all cultures and backgrounds. Includes a biography of Rita Joe and striking colour illustrations by Mi'kmaw artist Pauline Young.

Reviews
"This picture book version of I Lost My Talk is best read with Rebecca Thomas’s I’m Finding My Talk. These haunting, evocative books bring an original approach to the exploration of Canadian residential schools in picture books. For readers and teachers who appreciate fact-based information, there is also “A Short History of Residential Schools” at the end of I Lost My Talk. Educators, librarians, and families will find their classrooms and book collections invaluably enriched by these books. They are real tools of truth and reconciliation; as such, they belong on every bookshelf in Canada and beyond." - CM Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 9.

This work features a short history of residential schools and information about the author.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 1-7 for English Language Arts.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 10.00"

“Before schools were introduced to the Inuit, we were taught by our relatives.”

In this picture book, Monica Ittusardjuat shares how she learned knowledge and skills in a time before being taken to residential school. She describes how children learned through playing games, imitating grown-ups, and observing adults around them.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Inhabit Education Books is proud to introduce Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”), a program created to educate Nunavummiut about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that affected the Canadian Arctic. This book is a part of that program.

Each resource in the program has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that affected Inuit. Topics covered include the residential school system, relocations to settlements and the High Arctic, sled dog slaughters, the use of E and W numbers, and others. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

The resources in this program include personal interviews, testimony, and writing; non-fiction informational resources; and information about traditional Inuit practices.

This resource is included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 list as being useful for grades 2 to 4 for English Language Arts and Social Studies. 

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 9.00"

"Then one day a ‘flyable’ took me away from our world through the sky to a dark and desolate place.”

Jose Kusugak had a typical Arctic childhood, growing up playing games, enjoying food caught by hunters, and watching his mother preparing skins. But he was one of the first generation of Inuit children who were taken from their homes and communities and sent to live in residential schools. In this moving and candid memoir, Jose tells of his experiences at residential school and the lifelong effects it had on him.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 12 to 15.

Included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 6 to 9 for Social Studies, Science, and English Language Arts.

A personal, real story that introduces young readers to the memoir genre.

Inhabit Education Books is proud to introduce Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”), a program created to educate Nunavummiut about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that affected the Canadian Arctic.

Each resource in the program has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that affected Inuit. Topics covered include the residential school system, relocations to settlements and the High Arctic, sled dog slaughters, the use of E and W numbers, and others. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

The resources in this program include personal interviews, testimony, and writing; non-fiction informational resources; and information about traditional Inuit practices.

Additional Information
56 pages | 9.00" x 6.00". | b&w illustrations

When Nellie Winters was 11 years old, she was sent to attend the Nain Boarding School, a residential school 400 kilometres from her home. In this memoir, she recalls life before residential school, her experiences at the school, and what it was like to come home.

Accompanied by the author’s original illustrations, this moving, often funny memoir sheds light on the experiences of Inuit residential school survivors in Labrador.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 11-14.

This book is recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 5 to 7 for English Language Arts and Social Studies.

This book is part of the Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”) program.  This is a program created to educate Nunavummiut about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that have affected the Canadian Arctic.

Each resource has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that have affected Inuit. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

The resources in this program include personal interviews, testimony, and writing; non-fiction informational resources; and information about traditional Inuit practices.

Additional Information
26 pages | 9.00" x 7.00" | Transcribed and edited by Erica Oberndorfer

Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams is the latest addition to the award-winning picture book series written by Order of Canada recipient Cindy Blackstock (Gitxsan Nation) and illustrated by Amanda Strong (Michif)!

Spirit Bear is on his way home from a sacred ceremony when he meets Jake, a friendly dog, with a bag full of paper hearts attached to wood stakes. Jake tells Spirit Bear that school children and residential school survivors will plant the hearts when a big report on residential schools called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC for short) is shared. The TRC will have Calls to Action so we can all help end the unfairness and make sure this generation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children grow up healthy and proud!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

This book is part of the Spirit Bear series.

This book is available in French: Spirit Bear: Rendre hommage aux souvenirs, semer des rêves: Basé sur une histoire vraie

Additional Information
66 pages | 8.25" x 8.25"

The beloved story of an Inuvialuit girl standing up to the bullies of residential school, updated for a new generation of readers.

Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton’s powerful story of residential school in the far North has been reissued to commemorate the memoir’s 10th anniversary with updates to the text, reflections on the book’s impact, and a bonus chapter from the acclaimed follow-up, A Stranger at Home. New content includes a foreword from Dr. Debbie Reese, noted Indigenous scholar and founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature, while Christy Jordan-Fenton, mother of Margaret’s grandchildren and a key player in helping Margaret share her stories, discusses the impact of the book in a new preface.

With important updates since it first hit the shelves a decade ago, this new edition of Fatty Legs will continue to resonate with readers young and old.

Reviews
"I highly recommend this book for the discussion it would stir with students...Makes the harrowing residential school stories accessible to youth." — Resource Links

"Presents a unique and enlightening glimpse into the residential school experience and, most importantly, one little girl's triumph over her oppressors." — Quill & Quire

Educator Information
Themes: biography; Inuit; Indigenous peoples; Indigenous; arctic; school; self-esteem; abuse; community; prejudice; Canadian content; courage/bravery; right vs. wrong; role reversal; secrets; society; history; bullying; memoir; character education.

This resource is also available in French: Les bas du pensionnat

This resource is also available in its original format: Fatty Legs: A True Story 

Additional Information

Authenticity Note
This illustrator of this book is not Indigenous; therefore, her artwork is not considered to be Authentic Indigenous Artwork according to Strong Nations Authenticity Guidelines. The archival photos from Margaret Pokiak-Fenton's personal collection, however, are considered to be authentic, which is why the book is labelled as containing Authentic Indigenous Artwork. It is up to readers to determine whether or not the images in this work are authentic for their purposes.

In the bright lights of the big city, the Mighty Muskrats search for an auntie lost long ago.

The Mighty Muskrats are off to the city to have fun at the Exhibition Fair. But when Chickadee asks Grandpa what he would like them to bring back from the city, she learns about Grandpa’s missing little sister. She was, they learn, “scooped” years ago – like many Indigenous children, the government had arranged for her adoption by strangers without her parents’ permission. Now, the Mighty Muskrats have a new case to solve: to find the whereabouts of their grandpa’s long-lost sister. Once in the bright lights of the big city, the cousins get distracted, face off with bullies, meet some heroes and unlikely teachers, and experience many of the difficulties First Nations kids can face in the city. The Muskrats’ search for their missing auntie takes them all the way to the government, and reveals hard truths about their country’s treatment of First Nations kids and families.

Reviews
"The Case of the Missing Auntie is the second book in the Mighty Muskrats Mystery series and features the group visiting an Exhibition fair in the city. The Muskrats find their next mystery to solve when Chickadee learns that Grandpa’s missing sister was adopted without permission many years ago." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator & Series Information
This is Book 2 in the Mighty Muskrats Mystery Series.  Following The Case of Windy Lake, this second edition to the series follows these young sleuths as they explore the history of residential schools and the "scoops" that saw Canada take Indigenous children from their families and adopt them out to strangers. 

This book introduces young people to the history of Sixties Scoop in North America and how thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and given to white families to be raised.

This book tells of a classic fish-out-of-water experience as the kids try and figure out the nuances of the big city.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Guided Reading: V 

Lexile: 670L

This book is available in French: Sur les traces de tante Charlotte: Une enquête des Rats musclés 

Additional Information
192 pages | 5.25" x 7.50"

“I’m waiting for what we lost that day to come back to us.”

Ashley meets her great-uncle by the old train tracks near their community in Nova Scotia. When she sees his sadness, he shares with her the history of those tracks. Uncle tells her that during his childhood the train would bring their community supplies, but there came a day when the train took away with it something much more important. One day he and the other children from the reserve were taken aboard and transported to residential school, where their lives were changed forever. They weren't allowed to speak Mi'gmaq and were punished if they did. Uncle tells her he tried not to be noticed, like a little mouse, and how hard it was not to have the love and hugs and comfort of family. He also tells Ashley how happy she and her sister make him. They are what give him hope. Ashley promises to wait with her uncle as he sits by the tracks, waiting for what was taken from their people to come back to them.

Awards

• Co-winner of Second Story Press's Indigenous Writing Contest in 2018 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9 (grades 1 to 3)

The Train is an intergenerational story of healing from trauma. The legacy of abuse of North America's Indigenous peoples is something that affects all of us, and this book is another important resource to start that conversation with young people.

The Train can be empowering for children whose families and communities have lived through trauma, as they can learn about the history and that they are strong enough to carry that knowledge and be the change we need.

Subjects / Themes: Character Education: Empathy, Family, Friendship; History & Social Studies: Canadian History, First Nations and Indigenous Peoples; Reflecting Diversity. 

This book is available in a dual-language (Mi'gmaq and English) format: Ga's / The Train

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | colour illustrations | picture book 

The Boy Who Walked Backwards is a moving story about a young Ojibway boy, Leo, and his family in Serpent River First Nation. Leo’s life turns to darkness when forced to attend residential school. Back home for Christmas, Leo uses inspiration from an Ojibway childhood game to deal with his struggles.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 and under.

This book is based on a true story about the father of one of Ben Sure's friends. Ben was entrusted to write this story by his friend.

A boy discovers his Native American heritage in this Depression-era tale of identity and friendship by the author of Code Talker.

It's 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his Pop have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Cal likes being a "knight of the road" with Pop, even if they're broke. But then Pop has to go to Washington, DC--some of his fellow veterans are marching for their government checks, and Pop wants to make sure he gets his due--and Cal can't go with him. So Pop tells Cal something he never knew before: Pop is actually a Creek Indian, which means Cal is too. And Pop has decided to send Cal to a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School.

At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people's history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each other.

Reviews
"Cal's cleareyed first-person narration drives the novel. Meticulously honest, generous, autonomous and true, he sees things for what they are rather than what he'd like them to be. The result is one of Bruchac's best books." —New York Times Book Review

"A tautly paced and compelling story of self-discovery, family, belonging, and friendship." —Horn Book, starred review

"Multiple compelling Depression-era histories converge in Bruchac's latest . . . The students' utter subversion of Challagi's mission to sever their ties with Indian culture soon becomes apparent, as does Cal's powerful, growing understanding of his identity." —Booklist

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 10+

Additional Information
320 pages | 5.81" x 8.56"

The dual-language edition, in Plains Cree and English, of Stolen Words, the award-winning story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in Cree, he tells her that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again.

This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.

Educator Information
This dual-language edition is in Plains Cree and English. The translation was carried out by two Plains Cree language speakers, Dolores Sand from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and Gayle Weenie from Sweetgrass First Nation. Language consultation and assistance was provided by the Cree Literacy Network.

Recommended for ages 6-9; Grades 1-3.

Guided Reading: Q
Lexile: 530L

Subjects: Character Education (Empathy, Family & Friendship); History & Social Studies (Canadian History, First Nations & Indigenous Peoples); Reflecting Diversity.

This resource is also available in French: Les mots voles

This resource is also available in English only as Stolen Words.

Additional Information
28 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"