Indigenous Peoples in the United States

A River Lost is the familiar story of an ancient culture infringed upon and altered forever by modern technology. It is the story of how the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam led to the destruction of a way of life for members of the Arrow Lakes Tribe. Sinee mat and her great-grandmother Toopa tell the engaging story of life on the Columbia River, before and after the dam.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

On a Maine summer day in 1884, twelve-year-old Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis first fell in love with baseball. As he grew up, Louis honed his skills and dreamed of one day joining a major league team.

Louis encountered opposition at every turn—from the jeers of teammates and the taunts of spectators who thought he had no place in a "white man's sport" to the disapproval of his father, who wanted Louis to focus on tribal life. Louis finally made it to the major league Cleveland Spiders, but racism followed him, until one momentous day in June 1897 at New York's Polo Grounds. Facing off against the most feared pitcher in baseball, Louis proved he belonged in the sport.

Here is the inspiring story of a boy who dared to make his dream a reality. With determination, courage, and quiet dignity, Louis Sockalexis smashed racial barriers and home runs, leaving an indelible mark on America's favorite sport.

Educator Information
Guided Reading: Q
Lexile: AD920L
Interest Level: Grades 1 - 5
Reading Level: Grades 2 - 4

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.50" x 8.25"

Inventiveness and ingenuity from North America's First Nations.

Everyone knows that moccasins, canoes and toboggans were invented by the Aboriginal people of North America, but did you know that they also developed their own sign language, as well as syringe needles and a secret ingredient in soda pop?

Depending on where they lived, Aboriginal communities relied on their ingenuity to harness the resources available to them. Some groups, such as the Iroquois, were particularly skilled at growing and harvesting food. From them, we get corn and wild rice, as well as maple syrup.

Other groups, including the Sioux and Comanche of the plains, were exceptional hunters. Camouflage, fish hooks and decoys were all developed to make the task of catching animals easier. And even games-lacrosse, hockey and volleyball -- have Native American roots.

Other clever inventions and innovations include:

* Diapers
* Asphalt
* Megaphones
* Hair conditioner
* Surgical knives
* Sunscreen.

With descriptive photos and information-packed text, this book explores eight different categories in which the creativity of First Nations peoples from across the continent led to remarkable inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today.

Educator & Series Information
This book is a part of the We Thought of It series, a series which takes readers on a fascinating journey across the world's second largest continent to discover how aspects of its culture have spread around the globe.

Additional Information
48 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

The first paperback edition of Keepers of Life from the incredibly popular Keepers series.

These bestselling books have been long-time favourites with educators for their innovative approach to teaching children about Native cultures and the environment. Each book, co-authored by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto, combines Native legends with information and activities about the natural world.

Reviews
"This book is an excellent school resource for introducing children to Indigenous worldviews. It is comprised of 18 story packages which may be used as teaching tools in the classroom. The stories are divided by subject nature and include one introduction story, two stories about creation, one about celebration, thanksgiving and stewardship, eight about flowers and fruits, seeds and spores, five about survival, and one about healing our relations. Each traditional story acknowledges the Native North American cultures in which the story originated. An accompanying map helps readers situate where these different cultural groups traditionally resided. The stories are typically one to three pages long, making them ideal for sharing in the oral tradition. The stories are accompanied by beautiful black and white ink drawings, artistically representing the events and characters in each story. Following each story is a discussion prompt to help teachers explain the story’s context. The discussion prompts relate the story to Native North American traditional worldviews and emphasize mankind’s interconnection with the natural world." - Rachel Yaroshuk, CM Magazine

Educator & Series Information
Books in the Keepers series are recommended by educational journals across North America for children aged 5 to 12. 

Included at the end of the book is a Glossary and Pronunciation Key to Native North American Words and Names.

Foreword by Marilou Awiakta.

Additional Information
288 pages | 8.17" x 10.73"

Part of the bestselling "Keepers" series, Keepers of the Animals encourages an early interest in wildlife and the environment through Native stories and legends and extensively tested activities for children aged 5 to 12.

Perfect for classroom and home use, this interdisciplinary book teaches children to appreciate Native cultures and heritage while learning about North American animals, insects, fish, reptiles, and birds.

From the Introduction: Keepers of the Animals continues the tradition established by its highly popular and critically acclaimed predecessor, Keepers of the Earth. Here each parent, teacher, naturalist and storyteller is given the tools to bring the wonder and magic of the stories and lessons into the lives of children by empowering them with knowledge, skills and enjoyment found in the activities. This book is about learning to understand, live with and care for the animals: A gathering of carefully selected Native North American animal stories and hands-on activities that promote an understanding of, appreciation for, empathy with and responsible stewardship toward all animals on Earth, including human beings.

Educator & Series Information
B.C. Science Supplementary Resouce Gr.4- Life Science.

This book is part of the Keepers series.

Foreword by Vine Deloria, Jr.

Additional Information
288 pages | 8.35" x 11.00"

Native American stories combine with related hands-on activities to inspire children with a deep respect and interest in the Earth and in Native cultures in this popular and critically acclaimed book. Keepers of the Earth uses an interdisciplinary approach to introduce environmental concepts to children, aged five through twelve. The activities include theatre, reading, writing, science, social studies, and mathematics, and are designed to engage all of the senses.

Reviews
"Keepers of the Earth is an excellent school resource introducing children to Aboriginal worldviews. The book is comprised of 21 story packages which may be used as teaching tools in the classroom. The stories are divided by subject nature and include three stories about creation, two about fire, one about the earth, one about wind and weather, three about water, two about sky, one about seasons, six about plants and animals, one about life, death, and spirits, and about the unity of earth.... Following each story is a discussion prompt to help teachers explain the story’s context. The discussion prompts relate the story to First Nations traditional worldviews and emphasize mankind’s interconnection with the natural world. Following the discussion prompts, there is a list of questions to encourage student reflection. Some of the questions are focussed more on story comprehension while others encourage children to reflect on the greater meaning of the story and how it relates to their daily life.... Keepers of the Earth offers suggestions for activities to solidify and expand the learning of the story. Activity suggestions include field trips, demonstrations, experimentationand further discussion. Each story is accompanied by at least one activity with recommendations as to which age group tocater the activityto. While most of the activities seem directed at grades 3-8, there are many activities that could suit the needs of older or younger children with little or no modification." - Rachel Yaroshuk, CM Magazine

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Keepers Series.

Foreword by N. Scott Momaday.

Additional Information
240 pages | 8.25" x 10.72"

Native lore, stories, and activities encourage children to explore the fascinating night world. By studying astronomy, Native beliefs, nighttime weather, and North American nocturnal plants and animals, children aged 5 to 12 learn to appreciate the importance of night in the natural cycle and overcome common fears about the nighttime world.

Educator & Series Information
B.C. Science Supplementary Resource: Gr.3-Earth and Life Science

B.C. Science Supplementary Resouce Gr.4- Life Science.

Filled with interdisciplinary activities, legends, and illustrations to inspire children and educators alike.

This book is part of the Keepers series.

Additional Information
146 pages | 9.75" x 6.75"