Round Dance

A joyous celebration of gender expression through an Indigenous lens, by New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and Ojibwe elder Daniel Ramirez

Raven loves round dances. The drums sing to the people, and the people dance to their songs. Raven especially loves dancing with his grandma, sidestepping to the rhythm of the drums. His favourite part of all is watching the ribbon skirts swirl like rainbows.

"Nohkum, do you think a boy could wear a ribbon skirt?" Raven asks his grandmother one day. She tells him she has lived for a long time, but she has never seen it. That evening, she sews late into the night, and Raven awakes to a rainbow skirt of his own. "I've lived for a long time," his grandma says, "and I'm lucky to see beautiful things that I've never seen before." At the next dance, Raven wears the swirl of unique ribbons with pride.

With illustrations infused with joy and colour, this moving intergenerational story celebrates self-expression, honouring traditions, and finding room for reinvention.

Reviews
"Weaves Two-Spirit self-expression and collective belonging into a beautiful tribute to Indigenous heritage." — Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW

"Cree author Spillett (I Sang You Down from the Stars) captures the joy of the round dance, and a feeling of belonging and connection offered in intergenerational Indigenous community." — Publishers Weekly - STARRED REVIEW

"[A] welcome story about an Indigenous child's gender expression." — The Horn Book

"In this heartfelt story, Spillett shows that love and support matter more than tradition, gently challenging expectations while honouring culture." - Debra H., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

This title is included in the Indigenous Books for Schools database from the Association of Book Publishers of BC. It is recommended for Grades 2 to 4 for English Language Arts, Art, Dance, Music, and Social Studies.

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

Thundering drums, rattling hooves, clinking jingles—come along with Paul, Jeff, and Uncle Lenard to the powwow!

Paul Wahasaypa—Siha Tooskin—has invited his friend, Jeff, to a powwow. It’s Jeff’s very first powwow, and is he ever nervous! What if he says or does the wrong thing? Grass dancers, Fancy Shawl dancers, Chicken dancers—what does it all mean? Follow along as Jeff learns all about the dances and their beautiful traditions. See you at the powwow!

The Siha Tooskin Knows series uses vivid narratives and dazzling illustrations in contemporary settings to share stories about an 11-year-old Nakota boy.

Reviews
"Charlene and Wilson have managed to capture the waves of excitement and anxiousness that come with dancing in a powwow. Their storytelling honours the dances and the community that forms around these events. They do not shy away from the negative history of colonization, but do so gently as a means of reinforcing why powwows are so important to our people. Siha Tooskin Knows the Love of Dance, with its words and illustrations, is a love letter to our family, culture, resilience, and pride." - Tanya Talaga, journalist and author

"This wonderful story is about Paul taking Jeff to his first powwow and Jeff learning how to appreciate and understand what a powwow is while also being worried that he will accidentally say something offensive. Jeff learns about the laws in Canada intended to restrict Indigenous activities such as powwows and he is visibly shaken-- not understanding how something so beautiful could be punished. This is such an important message and was handled so well.

Siha Tooskin Knows the Love of the Dance is a book for all ages that encourages readers to learn more about Indigenous groups and terms that are unfamiliar (the book has a glossary at the back). I am so excited to see that this is a series and I have so much more research to do based on the issues and traditions that the book discusses.

This is a book that is very much needed in Canada (although not just Canada) and I cannot articulate enough how much I enjoyed it and how much it will be with me in future. Truly, Charlene Bearhead, Wilson Bearhead, and Chloe Bluebird Mustooch deserve several awards for this book." — Emma Cuneo, NetGalley, September 2019

Educator & Series Information
The Siha Tooskin Knows series uses vivid narratives and dazzling illustrations in contemporary settings to share stories about an 11-year-old Nakota boy. Explore Nakota culture and traditions alongside Paul Wahasaypa and his community in this eight-book series.

Key Features:

• A coming-of-age story about a Nakota boy learning about his identity and developing a sense of cultural responsibility in a contemporary, urban setting. Also touches on issues of environmental ecology and bullying.
• Charlene Bearhead and Wilson Bearhead are both well-respected and accomplished educators and storytellers.
• A part of the Siha Tooskin Knows series with teachings that show an Indigenous community and family in a positive light.
• Nakota lessons aim for universality, informing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers.
• This book illustrates how traditional teachings can play a vital role in contemporary life.
• Dynamic illustrations by Nakota artist Chloe Bluebird Mustooch bring this story to life.

Recommended for ages 9 to 11.  Early Chapter Books.

Themes/Subjects/Keywords: Culture, Family, Friendship, Inclusivity, Nakota, Powwows, Dancing, Regalia.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for Grades 3 to 6 in the areas of English and Social Studies.

Additional Information
40 pages | 5.50" x 8.00" | Colour Illustrations