Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Alice loves her community, and she's excited to show others her favourite things to see and do throughout the year. From ice fishing to collecting clams to cheering on hunters in the community, there is always something to enjoy in Sanirajak.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut

Readers will learn about different activities people do in each season in Sanirajak, Nunavut in Sanirajak, a Place I Love.

Sanirajak, a Place I Love teaches about the values of community and sharing food with community members after a hunt.

This book is part of the Community Connections series.

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Paperback

“All aboard our little boat!
We’ll sail all night.
Let’s see where we float!”

Full speed ahead as two siblings sail off for dreamland! Before these two can settle down under the covers, they cruise off onto the Arctic Ocean to bid goodnight to narwhals and guillemots, mikes and belugas. They sail past clouds shaped like polar bears and marvel at the multitudes of stars that twinkle between them. Before dawn pulls them back to their own cozy bedroom, they snack with the seals on the bow of their ship, waving goodbye as from dreamland to daytime they go.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover 

This lyrical, stunningly illustrated book explores the sea wolf—an apex marine mammal evolved from the gray wolf—as it navigates the coastline, eats seafood, and lives its extraordinary, unusual life.

Sea Wolves: Keepers of the Rainforest is the astonishing story of a wolf species that calls the shores of western Canada and southeastern Alaska home. Here, wolves crack clams, feast on fish roe, swipe salmon from rivers, and swim miles between islands—as long observed by the First Nations communities that have lived alongside them for thousands of years.

However, with the rise of industrial logging, pipeline projects, and other threats, sea wolves face a troubled future. Wildlife experts and First Nations members agree: these majestic creatures are a vital part of the ecosystem and need to be protected.

Through beautiful verse and striking illustrations, Sea Wolves captures the fascinating life of an animal with great cultural and scientific significance—one that will inspire awe in young readers.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Story Locale: Coast of western Canada and southeastern Alaska; British Columbia; First Nations territory

Additional Information
32 pages | 11.31" x 9.81" | Hardcover 

A joyful, rhyming story in the vein of Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, this debut children's picture book follows an Indigenous family as they enjoy the magic of a winter storm.

All is quiet on the snow-laden street.
Not a single soul makes a teeny-tiny peep.
Then,
With a bound and a bang and a funny kind of twirl
Out comes a bundled-up joyful little girl.

Capturing the magic of a snowfall, Snow Day follows an Indigenous family as they experience all of the delights of a winter's day. While Mom shovels the driveway and Dad cares for her brother by the fire, a young girl and her dog make snowflake tea, build a snow caterpillar, catch snowflakes on their tongues, and make snow angels. All while the snow continues to fall. At the end of the day, the girl is beckoned inside by the promise of hot chocolate, and regails her family with her adventures' and dreams of doing it all again tomorrow.

Atmospheric, nostalgic, and full of winter fun, the debut picture book by mixed-Cree journalist, book reviewer, and podcast host Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird is a celebration of Indigenous joy and childhood wonder. Features warm, colourful artwork rendered in traditional gouache and coloured pencil from debut illustrator Ashley Thimot.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover 

Following the success of Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox and Sometimes I Feel Like a River, this companion book explores the nature and beauty of trees.

Twelve lyrical poems look at twelve different trees, from early spring to deep winter. In each poem, a child identifies with a feature of the tree - such as the smooth trunk of a birch whose bark has peeled away, the strong branches of a spruce that shelter small birds or the pink flowers of a cherry blossom that tumble like confetti. The poems provide an opportunity to learn about each tree, inspiring us to look afresh at the trees around us - whether in the schoolyard, neighborhood or park - and get to know them better.

Danielle Daniel's passion for trees is beautifully matched by Jackie Traverse's paintings, which bring each tree to life. In the pages following the poems, children are invited to consider what different kinds of trees might mean to them. In an author's note, Danielle Daniel shares her belief, similar to her Algonquin ancestors', that trees are sentient beings with much to give and teach us.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

This book is part of the Sometimes I Feel Like series.

This book encourages a familiarity with, knowledge about, love of and respect for trees, providers of shade, beauty, oxygen, medicines, food and more.

The text and illustrations show twelve trees from spring through winter, making this a title that could support teaching science units on the seasons.

Key Text Features
illustrations
author's note
poems

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.5
Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.25" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

“Noozhishenh, bimadiziwin,” Nookomis says. “My granddaughter, live a good life.”

An Ojibwe grandmother carefully measures and selects just the right colors of fabric, and her sewing machine hums whirr, whirr, whirr late into the night.

In the morning, her growing granddaughter has a beautiful new ribbon skirt to wear, a reminder of her nookomis and the cultural traditions that stitch together her family with love.

This heartwarming story by Marcie Rendon (Ojibwe), with stunning illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Ojibwe), celebrates the power of Indigenous craft and community and weaves together the spirit of resilience, female empowerment, and gratitude for the generations that came before us.

Reviews
A radiant and joyful glimpse at an important Native tradition."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Tradition and love are the core of this picture book...Ojibwe language is seamlessly woven into the dialogue. The digital art fully saturates the pages, layering textures and colors much like the ribbon skirts, and the palette is buoyant and bright, exuding a celebratory feel." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book"s

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Detailed text perfect for read-alouds.

Backmatter includes a glossary of Ojibwa terms, more information on ribbon skirts, including history and significance, and infromation about manoomin (wild rice).

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

Inspired by a true story!

Tanna's Puppy is the third installment of authors Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley's acclaimed series of children's books that explore Rachel's childhood experiences with Arctic animals.

Training dogs has been a strong Inuit tradition for generations. Sled dogs in Inuit communities are valued working animals with a clear and important purpose. Tanna has always known that dogs are not pets. They are not meant to live in houses. Then one day, Tanna is given a puppy to raise as a pet. Dandy is the cutest pup she has ever seen, but Tanna knows her father will not let her keep Dandy as a pet. She eventually convinces her father to let Dandy into the house, just as a test, to see if she can become a good pet. It's a test that Dandy seems unable to pass—she chews Father's tools and the family's caribou skin clothing; she jumps in the frigid Arctic water and nearly freezes. Finally, Father decides Dandy will need to learn to be a sled dog after all, and he and Tanna take Dandy on a trip with the other sled dogs. While out on the land, the family encounters a danger that threatens Tanna's life. Dandy wastes no time in jumping in to protect her owners. Will Dandy's love for her owners win Father over to having a dog as a pet?

A heartwarming tale of the unique realities of Northern life and the changing definitions of what it means to be a family.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

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

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

The drum is a special symbol in many Indigenous cultures. In this rhyming picture book, young Ren is given a handmade drum by his mother that help to teach him many things about himself and his culture.

An adaptation of the best-selling book, Drum from the Heart, by Indigenous author Ren Louie for ages 4-6.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 6.

This book is an adaptation of Drum from the Heart for ages 4 to 6.

This book is available in French: Les enseignements du tambour 

Additional Information 
24 pages | 8.50" x 7.50" | Hardcover 

"My son, you do not need black hair, brown skin, or brown eyes like me to pray and practice your culture. You will learn the songs and the drumming in time. The Creator's plan was to give you everything that makes you who you are, and you are perfect to me just the way you are! Always remember that, no matter what anyone else says to you. We need to pray for those children too, my son, as hard as that may seem. But remember, you are exactly how the Creator planned you to be, and I will love you until the end of time."

As a Mi'kmaq child, Richard Pellissier-Lush grew looking different than other the other Indigenous children. He didn't feel he fit in with the non-Indigenous or the Indigenous children he knew. But his mother continually reminding him that he was part of the Creator's plan empowered him to embrace his culture no matter what he looked like. Her chorus of encouragement stayed with him through his childhood and helped make him the man he is today.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

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

How can the small mouse and squirrel play lacrosse with the big animals? A fun Native American tale that first graders can read on their own.

A game of lacrosse is about to begin—with the four-legged animals facing off against the winged animals. Mouse and Squirrel want to join!

But Bear and Deer won’t let animals so small on their team. The birds would welcome the small animals, but Mouse and Squirrel can't fly. The winged team has a clever plan.

This Native American tale about the origin of the bat and flying squirrel is framed by a grandfather sharing a story with his grandson.

Educator & Series Information
Phonics features are noted on the copyright page.

This book has been officially leveled by using the F & P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System. It is a Level I for Grade 1.

The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on books for kindergarteners and first graders. Acclaimed author-illustrators create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

A pitch-perfect story about sibling bonds and Anishinaabe cultural traditions, from the bestselling author of SkySisters.

Serenity is following her brother, Big Ed, to his fishing spot on Hawk River. Big Ed explains that the river is named for the Hawk, Gekek, the Keepers of the river and their Protectors. “They see things far off in the distance, things we can't,” he tells Serenity. Later, when Big Ed gets in trouble while fishing, Serenity follows the Hawk's shadow to come to her brother's aid. Bestselling author Jan Bourdeau Waboose showcases Indigenous storytelling traditions in this compelling picture book featuring Ojibwe words and cultural practices. Karlene Harvey's brightly colored illustrations stunningly capture the natural world of the bush. The sibling relationship, full of teasing and admonitions, is pitch-perfect, and will be relatable to readers of any age. This captivating book, with its rich narrative and riveting climax, is a wonderful choice for reading aloud. It's an excellent accompaniment to social studies lessons on cultures, local and global communities, and Indigenous Peoples. It also offers a perfect opportunity to encourage children to notice the natural world where they live.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover

This is a book for anyone, of any age, who cares about rivers.

This story of the Columbia River is unique. Told from the river’s perspective, it is an immersive, empathetic portrait of a once-wild river and of the Sinixt, a First People who lived on the mainstem of this great western river for thousands of years and continue to do so even though Canada declared them “extinct” in 1956.

The book’s re-release comes at a critical time for natural systems and for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples across North America. The Colville Confederated Tribes, representing over 3,000 Sinixt People, recently won a precedent-setting case in the Supreme Court of Canada affirming that Aboriginal Rights do not stop at the border. The important story of the Sinixt weaves together with the ongoing ecological impact of hydropower development on the Columbia and its tributaries.

Central to the story is the joyous spirit of salmon, once a free swimmer in the Columbia’s currents north of the border but now blocked from ancestral spawning grounds by Grand Coulee and other dams. Restoring migratory fish indigenous to the Upper Columbia will require transboundary cooperation. With Indigenous Nations on both sides of the US–Canada border now leading the way, many are hopeful that the fish will return.

Lavishly illustrated by Nelson, BC, designer Nichola Lytle, this portrait of a globally significant river will inspire anyone who reads it to care about the future of the salmon, a fish that unites all of us in its quest for freedom and possibility.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
96 pages | 9.50" x 8.50" | Paperback

Author Deidre Havrelock’s and illustrator Aphelandra’s The Heartbeat Drum is an uplifting picture book biography of a Cree activist and musician who founded an Indigenous hand drumming group, led by women and children, that spreads joy, healing, and unity

nisôhkisinân (We are strong) . . .
ninikamonân (We are singing) . . .
mîna nika-âhkamêyimonân (And we will continue) . . .

Whenever young Carol Powder sang along to her family’s music, her heart felt light and full of joy. Learning from her grandfather, Moshum, Carol listened closely to the drums’ heartbeat until one day Moshum made her a drum of her very own. As Carol grew up, she passed down her songs to her children, grandchildren, and many women in her community, just as Moshum taught her—even as women and children became increasingly excluded from sitting at the drum. Despite those who disapproved, she formed her own drumming group called Chubby Cree.

Today, Carol and her group share their music to advocate at climate events, to honor residential school survivors at special ceremonies, and to spread healing for anyone who needs it. Empowering and joyfully illustrated, The Heartbeat Drum is a radiant celebration of preserving Indigenous traditions, finding your voice, and speaking out.

Includes both an author’s note and illustrator’s note, as well as a personal note from Carol Powder herself.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 Pages | 9" x 11" | Hardcover 

How did Inuit come to know so much about Arctic animals? Follow a shaman as he is reborn as a polar bear, a ringed seal, and more to learn about what each animal teaches him. Through simplified text and engaging illustrations, young readers are sure to enjoy this adaptation of a traditional story.

This stunningly illustrated bilingual picture book serves as an early-level introduction to the rich, mysterious world of Inuit mythology. Adapted by author and linguist Jaypeetee Arnakak with the intention of teaching Inuktitut as a second language, The Shaman Who Became Many Animals can be enjoyed by Inuktitut language learners and curious young readers alike.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Dual-language format: English and Inuktitut.

This is a traditional story told in a simple way for young readers.

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

For the first time, Pauline Johnson’s "The Two Sisters,” a First Nations legend, is accompanied by sumptuous illustrations that showcase the splendour of the Salish Sea. The universal themes of Creation, courage, and peace run through this legend of two little girls who grow up to be courageous young women who help to bring lasting peace to their world. The story is supplemented by a reference section that will enable a reader, parent, teacher, or visitor to the coast to immerse themselves in the rich history of Coast Salish cultures.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

Additional Information
40 Pages | 9" x 10"