Ojibway (Ojibwe)

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

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.

All Creation Represented is a child’s guide to the Medicine Wheel. Told from an authentic perspective of an Anishinaabe / Ojibwe knowledge holder, Joyce Perreault skillfully weaves together traditional teachings with modern educational goals, making this book an excellent resource for children of all ages.

The Medicine Wheel is a foundation of teaching and learning that shows how different parts of life are connected and balanced. Many generations of Indigenous cultures have understood the world through Medicine Wheel teachings. The Medicine Wheel offers holistic and relational ways of understanding the self, the family, the community, the natural and spiritual world. The book introduces the concept of a Medicine Wheel, highlighting the significance of the associated ancestral teachings as it discusses various aspects of human well-being, the physical world, and Indigenous culture. This book is designed as an education resource and embodies First Peoples Principles of Learning.

Learn the Ojibwe words that are represented by various aspects of the Medicine Wheel with a glossary at the back of the book, and explore a way of looking at the world that is holistic, sacred, and powerful. All Creation Represented will help readers consider the wisdom and knowledge of the First Peoples who used the Medicine Wheel to teach about and understand the world around them.

Educator Information
This book is designed as an education resource and embodies First Peoples Principles of Learning.

Additional Informaiton
32 pages | 8.25" x 8.25"

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.

It's never too early to start teaching children their First Nations language, and Anishinaabe ABC Mazina'igan is a great tool to assist with learning.

This book is the second in a series by Language Facilitator, Wanda Barker. It is a great tool to assist with learning the Ojibwe language. Anishinaabe ABC Mazina’igan is filled with beautiful illustrations, Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe sentences and their English translations. The images can serve as a starting point for discussion of the cultural relevancy of the sentences associated with each letter.

This book can be used by students, parents and teachers, young and old.  It is written in the double vowel writing system and is intended to show the sequence of the Ojibwe alphabet.  The images can serve as a starting point for discussion of the cultural relevancy of the sentences associated with each letter.

Educator Information
This book is written in the Ojibwe language with a glossary at the back in Ojibwe and English. It is useful for anyone wanting to learn the Ojibwe language. 

It’s never too early to start teaching children their First Nations language, and Anishinaabemowin Alphabet is the perfect place to begin. This book is filled with beautifully shaded illustrations, Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe words and their English translations, and it can be used by students, parents and teachers young and old. It is written in the double vowel writing system and is intended to show the sequence of the Ojibwe alphabet. The images can serve as a starting point for discussion of the cultural relevancy of the word associated with each letter.

Educator Information
This book is written in the Ojibwe language.  An English translation for each word is provided at the back of the book.

The publisher recommends this book for children or anyone learning the Ojibwe language.

In 2018-2019, The Water Walker was an award recipient for First Nation Communities Read.

The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men, and youth, have walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example Josephine invites us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.

Awards
- 2018-2019 First Nation Communities Read

Reviews
"An important topic is treated with grace, love, and a smidgen of humor in this delightful, necessary book." —Kirkus Reviews

"... a worthwhile addition to classroom and public libraries and a resource for discussions about First Nations and ecology." — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"... like so many titles about Indigenous topics finally earning shelf space in Canadian libraries and bookshops, The Water Walker has just as much to teach parents as the children... Joanne Robertson succeeds in answering with her words and her art the same question that Nokomis Josephine answered with her footsteps: 'What are you going to do about it?'" — Anishinabek News

"The Water Walker is a wonderful book about conservation, environmentalism, and preservation, written in a way that even the youngest audience can understand why Nibi is important and why we should protect Nibi.... The book has the potential to be a highly interactive book around which science lesson plans could be formed. Students can discuss how they are protecting Nibi, they can write letters to Nokomis, and there can be discussion around the ways they can create change in the world, just as Nokomis did." — Resource Links

Educator Information
Delivered in English with some Ojibwe words.  Ojibwe glossary and pronunciation guide included in the book.

This book is available in a dual-language format (Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English): Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker

This books available in French: Nokomis et la marche pour l'eau

Additional Information
36 pages | 7.00" x 8.50"

Ojibwe traditionally moved as the season changed but today many live across the country. Learn about Ojibwe traditional ways of life and how they respect their traditions in modern Canada.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Indigenous Communities in Canada series.

Additional Information
24 Pages

When Richard’s class from Big Spirit School takes a canoe trip, he and his classmates chance upon an elderly woman. She tells them the story of her grandfather, John Ramsay, of the Sandy Bar community on Lake Winnipeg. Ramsay’s land was taken by the government and given to the new settlers from Iceland who arrived there in 1875. Yet many owed their survival to Ramsay, who helped them through freezing winters, hunger, and a devastating smallpox epidemic.

Educator & Series Information
The Land of Os is one book in the Tales From Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique graphic novel series that delves into the stories of great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills.

A Teacher's Guide is also available for the Tales from the Big Spirit Series: Tales from the Big Spirit Series Teacher's Guide. The teacher's guide is designed to help classroom teachers use the graphic novel series, Tales From Big Spirit, by David Alexander Robertson. The guide provides detailed lessons that meet a wide range of language arts and social studies goals, integrate Indigenous perspectives, and make curricular content more accessible to diverse learners.

This resources is also available in French: D'hier à aujourd'hui, Le protecteur d’Ós : John Ramsay

Additional Information
30 pages | 6.50" x 10.00"

A search down a wooded path for a well-hit baseball turns into an encounter between Pamela and a veteran soldier standing in front of a monument. The statue commemorates the heroism of Sgt. Tommy Prince, the most decorated Aboriginal soldier in Canada. Pamela is curious, and the veteran is happy to regale her with the story of the expert marksman and tracker, renowned for his daring and bravery in World War II and the Korean War.

Educator & Series Information
Tales from Big Spirit is a unique graphic novel series that delves into the stories of great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills.

Tales from the Big Spirit Series Teacher's Guide -  Tales from the Big Spirit Series Teacher's Guide. 

The teacher's guide is designed to help classroom teacher's use the graphic novel series, Tales From Big Spirit, by David Alexander Robertson. The guide provides detailed lessons that meet a wide range of language arts and social studies goals, integrate Indigenous perspectives, and make curricular content more accessible to diverse learners.

The Scout: Tommy Prince is available in French: L’éclaireur : Tommy Prince

Additional Information
30 pages | 6.50" x 10.00"

Adair’s Woodland style of painting is the highlight in this counting board book written in Ojibway and English. Beautifully designed birds and other wildlife sit against flat planes of colour in tones and shades ranging from bright reds to vibrant purples to pale blues. This is a gorgeous book for the very young that opens their eyes to art and their ears to language. An excellent introduction to Ojibway numbers, highlighting the culture’s deep relationship with animals.

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

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

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

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

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

Educator Information
Available in French HERE!

Additional Information
35 pages

My name is Pey-sim-away-apey-binasi, which means Rainbow Thunderbird in my language. I am an artist with Ojibway (Ashinabe) heritage and my English given name is Mark Anthony Jacobson.

This book is about the clan system of the Ojibway First Nations people of Canada and the animal totems, or spirits that represent them. The clan system is made up of a group of families, or clans that are descended from a common ancestor through family chiefs. This system provides leadership and organization within the community and plays a very important role in our culture, creating harmony and direction for each member of the tribe.

The animal totems help us identify the different responsibilities each clan has in supporting and leading our community, and we associate special gifts with each animal. The different animal totems spiritually represent specific clans and are very important for the tribe to function as a whole. Some of those meanings and functions are outlined in this wonderful book for you to learn and enjoy.

Thirteen-year-old Jak Loren is a typical boy with the usual problems a family with older sisters and younger brothers presents. Never mind the troubles at school - bullies and girls!

When Jak goes to the ravine near his home in Brantford to get away from Steven Burke, a bully who's been tormenting him, he discovers the ravine has a history that's much older than he thought. He meets Grandfather Rock, who shares with him the story of the people who have lived near the ravine for thousands of years. Soon Jak's eyes are opened to a new world of beings and respect.

He learns about First Nations people and how their teachings inhabit the spirits of all living things that surround us even today. The tales of the First Nations help Jak to understand that the gift of life is something to be cherished. And when a construction crew arrives in his neighbourhood and threatens his beloved ravine, Jak knows he has to act to save it.

Reviews
"Jak's Story explores the issues of bullying and the environment and integrates First Nations storytelling, wisdom and history. The chapters are short and captivating and Bell manages to minimize coming off as preachy. I read this book in one sitting." — Waterloo Record

"This is an excellent story to teach youth about First Nations beliefs and culture. It also reminds the reader of the importance of protecting the environment by setting limits to the amount of development of land. Aaron Bells honesty and respect for land and community shines through his writing in this first book." — Resource Links, February 2011

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 12-15

Additional Information
96 pages | 6.00" x 9.00"

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

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

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

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