Indigenous Peoples

What do your family members do?

This book describes the jobs of different members of a child’s family.

Educator & Series Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 6 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is B.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; Roles and responsibilities; Community engagement

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

An encounter with a pheasant (which may or may not be sleeping) takes a surprising turn in this sweetly serious and funny story of a Native American boy and his grandma

"Pull over, Grandma! Hurry!” Johnny says. Grandma does, and Johnny runs to show her what he spotted near the ditch: a sleeping pheasant. What Grandma sees is a small feathery hump. When Johnny wants to take it home, Grandma tries to tell him that the pheasant might have been hit by a car. But maybe she could use the feathers for her craftwork? So home with Grandma and Johnny the pheasant goes . . .

It’s hard to say who is most surprised by what happens next—Grandma, Johnny, or the pheasant. But no one will be more delighted than the reader at this lesson about patience and kindness and respect for nature, imparted by Grandma’s gentle humor, Johnny’s happy hooting, and all the quiet wisdom found in Cheryl Minnema’s stories of Native life and Julie Flett’s remarkably evocative and beautiful illustrations.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.50" x 8.50"

Jumping Mouse is just like another other mouse, except she has a dream—a dream to reach the fabled High Places. But one small mouse can’t make the long journey alone. At the start of her journey, Jumping Mouse is gifted new long legs from wise Grandfather Frog. Filled with gratitude, she soon meets others who need assistance just like she did: a buffalo that cannot see and a wolf that cannot smell. In order to aid them, she must sacrifice her own sight and hearing, putting her dream of the High Places at risk. Through perseverance and belief, Jumping Mouse discovers who she was truly meant to be, and demonstrates the value of friendship, selflessness, and sacrifice.

Characters come to life through striking photographs of ash-fired ceramic sculptures, giving a fresh twist to this retelling of a timeless tale from the oral tradition.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.62" x 9.45"

On a hot summer day, a young Anishinabe boy visits the shores of Gitchee Gumee with his mother. Nanaboozhoo, their teacher, is before them, presenting himself as a mass of land that stretches across the horizon. As they visit, Keeshig tells his mother about what he calls "the Ojibwe pterodactyls" that live with Nanaboozhoo. He talks about their hunting and what they like to eat. At the end of the story, Keeshig surprises his mom by sharing that the Ojibwe pterodactyls are indeed the thunderbirds and that they are the heartbeat of Nanaboozhoo. Keeshig's mom is so happy and grateful to hear his story and gives him a big hug, letting him know that he is her heart.

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 3 - 7

Keeshig's story, transcribed by his mother, is accompanied by stunningly beautiful colour illustrations by his father, Robert Spade, and his brother, Kiniw Spade. This remarkably beautiful children's picture book is a true family effort!  Could be used to encourage children to write, illustrate, and share/tell their own stories!

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

Additional Information
22 pages 

Begin and end the day with gratitude.

Award-winning author Richard Van Camp wanted to express his gratitude for all that surrounds him and his family. The strength of their connections, the nature that provides for them, the love that is endless. Complemented by photos from Indigenous women photographers who celebrate their own gratefulness on the collective blog Tea&Bannock, the simple verse in May We Have Enough to Share is the perfect way to start or end your little one's days in gratitude.

Educator Information
Ages 2 and under.

Themes: gratitude, sharing, community, mindfulness, babies, toddlers

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

Featured on Anaana's Tent on APTN!

What do Mia and her monster friends wear to stay warm? Watch as Mia and the monsters get ready to play outside in the snow.

Educator & Series Information
Bilingual: English and Inuktitut

This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills. 

Additional Information
16 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

Determination, teamwork, and perseverance together bring clean water for Nibi and all her friends.

Nibi is the Anishinaabemowin word for water. In Nibi's Water Song, an Indigenous girl is on the search for clean water to drink. Though she is faced with repeated obstacles, Nibi's joyful and determined energy becomes a catalyst for change and action as her community, and then in widening circles the country and government, rally around her to make clean drinking water available for all. In a story perfectly levelled for young readers, there is a strong underlying message that even when a problem seems too large to face, every bit that everyone does helps. And inaction in the face of a wrong is not an option.

Sunshine Tenasco, an Anishinabeg activist for clean water, has an amazing optimistic spirit that shines through her writing. The hopeful tone and lyrical read-aloud quality of this gentle allegorical tale open the door to conversations and action aimed at young children, whether they are on a reserve that does not have clean water or they are living with access to clean water. Chief Lady Bird's stunning, original artwork carries through the themes of strength, hope, and resilience in an incredible collaboration of talent.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4-8.

Features of this book include:

• An upbeat story about the importance of clean water.
• Encourages discussion on other environmental issues.
• Author and illustrator are both active in youth outreach and education in their communities.
• Models a way children can bring about change —demonstrating that though young, they are not powerless.

This resource is also available in French: Nibi a soif, très soif

This resource is available in a dual-language format of English and Anishinabemowin: Nibi nigomon/Nibi's Water Song

Additional Information
32 pages

Métis author, Spencer Sheehan-Kalina, uses poetry to highlight the beauty of the Nootka Sound and the animals that live there, with Aboriginal connections to the poem's content. Learn all about the traditional harvesting of the land plants and sea life by Nootka Sound's Indigenous people- the Mowachaht/Muchalaht.  In addition, young readers will learn the Indigenous words of the animals that live in the Nootka Sound area. The Aboriginal connections in this children's book align with the BC curricular competencies of kindergarten to grade 3.

Nootka Sound in Harmony was released to coincide with the 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages.

Educator Information
Indigenous Children's picture book - Ages 3-8

With appreciation for permissions and support from the Cultural Resource Centre committee and Chief Jerry Jack of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in Tsaxan, BC.

Additional Information
8" x 8" | 32 pages

What do you do on a summer’s day?

This book describes different things a child does on a summer’s day in the Arctic.

Educator & Series Information
Bilingual: English and Inuktitut

This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills. 

Additional Information
16 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

Who is in your family?

This book introduces children to the names of people in a family. Colourful illustrations guide children to practise reading the single word on each page.

Educator & Series Information 
This book helps children to practise terms for different family members.  It helps children build vocabulary and literacy skills.

This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 3 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is LB.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

When Phyllis was a little girl she was excited to go to residential school for the first time. Her Granny bought her a bright orange shirt that she loved and she wore it to school for her first day. When she arrived at school her bright orange shirt was taken away. This is both Phyllis Webstad's true story and the story behind Orange Shirt Day which is a day for us all to reflect upon the treatment of First Nations people and the message that 'Every Child Matters'.

Educator Information
Phyllis's Orange Shirt is an adaptation of The Orange Shirt Story which was the best selling children's book in Canada for several weeks in September 2018. This true story also inspired the movement of Orange Shirt Day which could become a federal statutory holiday.  A page of information about this day is included at the end of the book.  A short author biography is also included.

Adapted for ages 4-6.

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

This book is available in French: Le chandail orange de Phyllis

Additional Information
30 pages | 9.00" x 8.00"

Simonie loves to dance! When he sees a sign for Taloyoak’s annual Christmas Jigging Dance Contest, he can’t wait to enter. But practising is hard work, and Simonie starts to worry that he won’t do a good job in front of all his friends and neighbours.

Luckily, with a little advice from his anaana and ataata, and some help from his friends Dana and David, Simonie learns how to listen to the music and dance the way it makes him feel. When the time comes for the contest, he’s ready to dance his very best.

Based on the annual Christmas dance contest in the community of Taloyoak, Nunavut, this heartwarming picture book shows how a lot of hard work—and a little inspiration—can go a long way.

Educator Information
Ages 5-7.

Additional Information
30 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

In this story, River and his Auntie demonstrate how to smudge and share why smudging is important.

Educator Information
This book is ideal for reader level K-3.

When Tanna's father brings home an abandoned owl, she is not eager to take care of the needy, ugly little bird. Tanna must wake at 4:00 AM to catch food for the owl. She must feed it, clean up after it, all while avoiding its sharp, chomping beak and big, stomping talons.

After weeks of following her father's instructions on how to care for the owl, Tanna must leave home for school. Her owl has grown. It has lost its grey baby feathers and is beginning to sprout a beautiful adult snowy owl coat. As she says good-bye to the owl, she is relieved not to have to care for it anymore, but also is a bit sad.

This heartwarming story based on the author's own life experience teaches young readers the value of hard work, helping, and caring -- even when the thing you are caring for does not love you back.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for Grades K-2 in the areas of Language Arts and Social Studies.

Themes/Subjects: Connection to Land, Owls, Seasons, Animals, Responsibility, Caretaking.

This book is part of the Tanna's Animals series.

This book is available in French: Le Hibou de Tanna

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 10.00"

A timeless tale about difference, belonging, and courage that will inspire children to have faith in their inner strength.

The smallest bird at school, Jimmy feels certain he will never fit in. But Eagle reminds him that being small isn’t necessarily a weakness, and that being different can also be a strength. This book is loosely based on the author’s university experience of feeling he would never fit in, yet being mentored by a teacher who encouraged him to focus on his inner strength, rather than race or class.

This book is a landmark collaboration between two powerhouses of the Indigenous community of Sydney -- artist, activist, and illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft and her son Jack Manning Bancroft, who is CEO of Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) and has been listed among Sydney's Top 100 Most Influential People.

Educator Information
The publisher recommends this title for ages 3 and under, but it would work better with older children.

Additonal Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75"