Customs and Traditions

Thunder is tired of dealing with bullies at school who pick on him because of his long hair.

They don't understand why a boy would grow his hair long. When he is sure he has made up his mind to cut it, his grandmother reminds him of the power of having long hair.

Educator Information
Indigenous children's book.

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

When a baby is born, she is wrapped in a moss bag to keep her warm, secure and protected until she can move about on her own. This story tells of Fawn, whose mother brings home a new baby sister. She teaches Fawn all about the moss bag (wâspison). It is made from soft hide and decorated with beautiful beadwork.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

This book is part of the Little Women's Lodge Stories series.

Additional Information
28 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

This story tells of the origin of the baby swing in the Cree (Nehiyaw) tradition. Morning Star’s mother is bringing home a new baby, so Nôkhom (her grandmother) and her father are making a swing for the baby. Grandmother tells Morning Star the legend of how Grandmother Earth brought materials for the swing to a young woman named White Flower who had been left to care for many babies while the parents were off hunting. White Flower was in tears because the babies would not stop crying, so she prayed to the grandmothers in Spirit World for help. When White Flower and Grandmother Earth put the babies in the swings, they calmed down and White Flower was able to get her chores done.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

This book is part of the Little Women's Lodge Stories series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

Based in Duck Bay, Manitoba, in the 1940s, an Elder shares his experience of packing up to go out to collect blueberries, a traditional gathering that took place every summer. He describes the journey and landscape with humor and such vivid imagery that readers will see themselves there with him, boarding the trail of wagons from surrounding communities and heading east toward the blueberry patch. The Elder's stories offer a journey back in time and are complemented by images of fields of plump blueberries, tall green grass, bannock baking over an open fire, clear freshwater streams and the tents the people slept in.

Educator Information
Written in English and Anishinaabemowin. Includes a page of after-reading activities for kids at the back of the book that both test reading comprehension and encourage further inquiry and exploration.

Recommended for ages 6-8.

Themes: Manitoba, Berries, Food Sovereignty, Indigenous, Traditions, Food, Culture, Family, Community, Anishinaabe.

Includes a recipe for bannock.

Translated by Norman Chartrand.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades K-3 in these areas: English Language Arts, Art, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Toonik Tyme is a lot of fun!

This book describes different things that happen during Toonik Tyme, an annual festival in Iqaluit that celebrates Inuit traditions and the return of spring.

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 7 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 E.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Indigenous perspectives; Community engagement; History; Heritage

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
16 pages | 10.00" x 10.00"

In Nunavut, there are a lot of things to celebrate!

This book features celebrations that are important to communities across the North, such as The Return of the Sun and Nunavut Day.

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 10 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. F&P Level of this book: L.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Indigenous Perspectives; History and Heritage.

Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
22 pages | 7.00" x 9.00"

Learn all about the history and traditional uses of the qulliq.

In this book, a grandmother teaches her grandchild how to light a qulliq and tells her about its history and traditional uses.

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 9 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. F&P Level of this book: L.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Indigenous Perspectives; History and Heritage.

Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 6.00"

An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school.

Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane (boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way.

When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Ho'onani has to try . . .

Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and an empowering story of a girl who learns to lead and learns to accept who she really is--and in doing so, gains the respect of all those around her.

Ho'onani's story first appeared in the documentary A Place in the Middle by filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.

Reviews
“Boldly outlined watercolor and ink artwork . . . convey visual information with strength that suggests Ho‘onani’s own. And Gale grounds the child’s experience, based on a true story, in Hawaiian traditions, modeling showing ‘every person the same unconditional acceptance and respect’.” --Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Ho'onani’s courage to be true to herself and her place in the middle is empowering. Hawaiian words are intermixed, and Song’s illustrations are full of emotion and determination.” --Kirkus Reviews

“Ho’onani: Hula Warrior tells the story of a young gender-nonconforming child who, though she still uses female pronouns, does not wish to be either a girl or a boy. Ho’onani is seen by some as too loud, too brash, too masculine. But when she starts to show an interest in leading a group of students in a hula chant, some don’t believe she can do it because she’s not a boy, not strong enough, not bold enough! Stuck in the middle but not willing to back down, Ho’onani and her teacher, Kumu Hina (“kumu” means teacher), work to build her skills and prepare her to take the tests necessary to show that she is skilled enough to lead. And while her parents and brother are not very surprised at Ho’onani’s determination, Kana, her sister, is less than pleased and stops hanging out with Ho’onani like they used to. But in the end, Ho’onani works hard and continues to buck stereotypes in the process, ultimately bringing her closer to her goal with each passing day, until the moment arrives when she must prove herself in front of the whole community.

This empowering and delightfully engaging picture book is based on the true story of Ho’onani Kamai who was raised in Honolulu and was coached by Hinaleimoana Kwai Kong Wong-Kalu (shortened in the book to Kumu Hina). An author’s note at the beginning gives a more detailed explanation of the real-life story, some history and a mention of the documentary (A Place in the Middle) which was inspired by Ho’onani and Kumu Hina’s working together.

.... The story is not simply one of strength and overcoming obstacles, but it is also a story about traditions, acceptance, and respect for others. Ho’onani is not simply a determined youngster, but also an individual trying to help others understand that gender stereotypes are harmful and limiting. Gale’s picture book will help young readers and adults better understand a small slice of Hawaiian traditions and nonbinary people, referred to as Mahu, those who embody both feminine and masculine traits.

.... An entertaining, illuminating, and empowering read, Ho’onani: Hula Warrior will make a welcome addition to classrooms, libraries, and story times!” --CM Magazine

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4-8.

The author thanks Ho'onani Kamia and Kumu Hina on her website for allowing her to write this story.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.80" x 11.40"

This book explores the Nuu-Chah-Nulth.

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

Additional Information
24 Pages

Neekah is thrilled that she can finally learn to knit like her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother before her. But knitting a toque for Grandma Dorothy is not as easy as she had imagined. A lyrical celebration of the tradition of Cowichan knitting among the Coast Salish peoples and the joy of creating something with your hands.

Neekah’s great-grandma, Mumma, knit all her life. Her Grandma Dorothy knits, her mom knits, and all her aunties knit. Even some of Neekah’s uncles knit. And Neekah wants to knit too. Every year she asks her mom if she can learn, and every year she hears, “Be patient. Your hands aren’t quite big enough yet.”

At last Neekah is ready to learn, her head and heart bursting with the colourful patterns and designs she will create with the wool. She sits down with her mom, holding the wooden needles Grandpa Carl has made for her and the wool from Auntie Joni’s wool shop. But knitting a toque for Grandma Dorothy is not as easy as she had imagined.

From award-winning author Sylvia Olsen comes a lyrical celebration of the tradition of Cowichan knitting among the Coast Salish peoples and the joy of creating something with your hands. Combined with Sheena Lott’s exquisite watercolours, families will love to share this cozy, loving story that carries the clicking of knitting needles down through the generations to a young girl holding her first set of needles.

Reviews
“This gentle and inspiring story—with outstanding illustrations—will be read over and over again. Love threads itself through the book as knowledge and skills are passed among generations: love of family, love of learning, love of tradition; plus perseverance, the joy of discovery, creativity, and the importance of patience. A simply wonderful book.” —Meg Swanson, Knitting designer, author, and owner of schoolhousepress

“Neekah’s Knitting Needles reminded me of my childhood and the great times I had with my grandfather, Xaniimastan (Peter Mitchell), sitting on his lap while he taught me cultural songs from the bighouse. I really enjoyed reading about a young person who wanted to learn and how knitting taught her our cultural lessons about never giving up and about Respect, Patience, Generosity, Hard Work, Love, and Caring. I was lifted up when I read how proud she was to give away her first toque.” —XanIImastan, TIm HarrIs, Stz’uminus First Nation Principal, W̱ SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School

Educator's Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
8" x 10" | 40 Pages

When two foxes, who are best friends, have a fight it upsets the whole community of animals. Kokom the Owl knows just what to do and brings together all the animals and holds a Sharing Circle.

Educator Information
This book is an adaptation of the book The Sharing Circle for a younger audience (ages 4-6). Explores topics of respect, communication, relationships.  Useful social-emotional learning resource.

Includes a page of Plains Cree animals and their phonetic pronunciations at the end of the book.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades K-3 in these areas: English Language Arts.

This book is available in French: Le cercle d'aide et de partage 

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 8.00"

When We Had Sled Dogs: A Story from the Trapline - ācimowin ohci wanihikīskanāhk takes readers young and old on a journey into the past when dog teams were part of the traditional way of life in Northern Saskatchewan. Inspired by Elder Ida Tremblay’s childhood memories, and told in English with Woodland Cree words and phrases, the story follows the seasonal cycle of trapline life.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 - 10.

Delivered in English with Woodland Cree words and phrases.

This resource is recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades K to 4 for use in these areas: Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Career Education.

Additional Information

Celebrated Mi'kmaw artist behind The Thundermaker returns with a story about friendship and the importance of traditional knowledge.

From the bestselling creator of The Thundermaker comes another adventure featuring Little Thunder and Wolverine — a trickster, who is strong and fierce and loyal. The two are best of friends, even though Wolverine can sometimes get them into trouble. Their favourite pastime is eel fishing, whether it's cutting through winter ice with a stone axe or catching eels in traditional stone weirs in the summer. But that all changes one night, when they encounter the giant river eel — the eel that is too big to catch. The eel that hunts people!

At once a universal story of friendship and problem-solving, Wolverine and Little Thunder is a contemporary invocation of traditional Mi'kmaw knowledge, reinforcing the importance of the relationship between the Mi'kmaq and eel, a dependable year-round food source traditionally offered to Glooscap, the Creator, for a successful hunt.

Educator Information
Recommended ages: 4-8

Additional Information
40 pages | Paperback

A book about the Algonquin Nation. 

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

Additional Information
24 Pages

A book about the Haida Nation.

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

Additional Information
24 Pages