Most Searched Titles

Meet Tom Longboat

Deas, Mike

Meet Tom Longboat is one of the new picture book titles in the Scholastic Canada Biography Series featuring accessible text, full-colour illustrations, with historical notes and timelines that provide even more information on Tom Longboat’s (1886-1949) background and incredible accomplishments. This 32-page book offers young readers a new approach to understanding a famous long distance runner from Six Nations of the Grand River who competed in the Boston Marathon. Author Elizabeth MacLeod tells a lively story that touches on the Onondaga athlete’s unorthodox running style and training regimen. Often criticised for his running approach, Tom proves his style was the best method as athletes use the method in today’s marathon racing. Tom also faced racism and discrimination from the public but he carried his head high and was always proud of his home community. He served as a messenger during World War One and returned to Canada despite being declared missing and presumed dead. Following the war marathon racing fell out of favour being replaced by team sports. When Tom found employment he was pleased to work outdoors in Toronto as a street cleaner and garbage collector. Eventually he retired and lived on Six Nations until his death in 1947. Tom Longboat was named to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and Tom Longboat Day was established on June 4 in Ontario. Artist and illustrator Mike Deas creates accessible drawings styled in the form of comics that will appeal to young readers. A fine combination of story and illustrations introduce primary level readers to this remarkable sports hero from Six Nations. Highly recommended.

Date Published:2019

Malama' Aina

Johnston-Bush, Catherine

A 6-part series This segment explores the intimate relationship Native Hawaiians have with the land and all living things. Included in this piece is the touching story of how the Tlingets of Alaska gave the Hawaiians three giant sitka spruce for a traditional outrigger canoe because they had no trees large enough left on the Islands. Botanists, ceremonial hula dancers, artists, healers, navigators and others describe how indigenous Hawaiians are struggling to save their cherished land.

Date Published:2005

People of the Cedar

Johnston-Bush, Catherine

A 6-part series The tribal nations of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest consider the cedar essential to life, equal only to the salmon. This segment features many traditions that have evolved from community life in the forest: carving, basket making, weaving, making cedar clothing and gathering. The Yakima share their concerns and philosophy on sustainable forestry and traditional food and gathering.

Date Published:2005

Misaabe's Stories / A Story of Honesty

Vermette, Katherena

A Story of Honesty Misaabe tells great stories-about trolls, and x-ray glasses, and secret agents, and his super-exciting life. But is real so bad?

Date Published:2015

Beaded Earrings - Techniques & Designs

Reddick, Rex & Ginger

Today beaded jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, and earrings are still extremely popular, especially those made in a Native American style. Using Beaded Earrings, readers can learn a craft that has delighted humankind for generations. This simple, concise guide contains easy-to-read, step-by-step instructions to teach techniques to both beginners and beading experts. Readers are taught twelve basic patterns that can be combined to make more than thirty-five different kinds of earrings. Instructions are also included on how to create one-of-a-kind designs. Beaded Earrings includes page after page of full-color illustrations that show how to make many different styles of traditional Native American earrings, including basic dangle variations, as well as Brick Stitch, Gourd Stitch and Bugle Bead. The techniques learned here can be applied to necklaces and other types of jewelry, as well. Instructions come complete with recommendations on the types and amount of beads and supplies to purchase and a list of practical suggestions to help readers avoid common frustrating errors.

Date Published:2011

Behind Closed Doors: A Survivor's Story of the Boarding School Syndrome

Fortier, Mary 2002

Date Published:2002

The Water Walker

Robertson, Joanne

The Water Walker is a celebration of a determined Ojibwe grandmother Nokomis Josephine and her love for water nibi. 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 challenges us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations. Ojibwe author and illustrator Joanne Robertson is a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She continues to help water walkers through live GPS spotting to make sure the water is safe on their journeys. Joanne lives near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This important book presents a much-needed resource about a current First Nation woman who took it upon herself to raise awareness about the importance of water for our life on earth. Illustrator Joanne Robertson compliments her texts with engaging full colour images. The book contains a glossary of Ojibwe and English terms as well as simple maps young readers will understand. This is one of the best resources from Indigenous storytellers for 2017. Highly Recommended. The Water Walker has been selected in the Children’s Category Longlist for First Nation Communities READ 2018.

Date Published:2017

Catcha Bear Plays the Fiddle

Samatte, Sandra

Level 1 Reading Series

Date Published:2016

Spirits Of The Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies

Lake-Thom, Bobby

Date Published:1997

Honour drum

Huff, Tim

Honour Drum: Sharing the Beauty of Canada's Indigenous People with Children, Families and Classrooms is written by Nadleh Whut'en First Nation author Cheryl Bear and social-justice worker Tim Huff. Written as a simple rhyming poem for elementary students in primary level grades partnered with teacher notes and suggested activities this book offers parents and teachers the opportunity to introduce children to the First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in Canada. In 40 pages the coauthors use alternating pages to present the poem with colour cartoon-like drawings on the left page and facing page presents brief directions and explanations for infusing Indigenous cultural knowledge for beginners. The colourful illustrations by Tim Huff provide a light, non-threatening approach to a current topics such as who are First Nations, what is powwow, music, dance, Elders, storytelling, symbols and colours, Creator, Mother Earth, compassion and respect, and the importance of listening, and working together. Readers should be aware that the text for teachers on occasion shifts from terms such as Indigenous culture to Indigenous cultures. Readers may find this inconsistency confusing. There are numerous First Nation cultures in Canada and each Nation has its own unique history, culture and language. Terminology and the use of singular and plural when discussing Indigenous Peoples in Canada are important and all authors and publishers should strive for consistency and accuracy. Another minor issue is the illustration of the Haudenosaunee turtle shell rattle is used in the context of ceremonies and other healing matters. An illustrated horn rattle would be more appropriate as an illustration. Overall the simple text and the teacher guide information are excellent for establishing a dialogue in terms of ,reconciliation and discussion. Recommended.

Date Published:2016

Telling Our Stories: : Omushkego Legends and Histories from Hudson Bay.

Bird, Louis

This delightful volume of Omushkego (Swampy Cree) stories is one of Louis Bird's ongoing contributions to the recording of his people's unique culture and orature, or oral literature. Louis Bird, an Omushkego elder from Peawanuck, Ontario, has spent three decades gathering the stories of the Omushkegowak from the western shores of James Bay and... .

Date Published:2005

A Dictionary of the Cree Language: As Spoken by the Indians of the Provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta

WATKINS, E. A.

Reference In Cree and English.

Date Published:1938

Living Knowledge

Johnston-Bush, Catherine

Tribal members from Mashpee Wampanoags, Nansemonds, Pequots, Mohawks and others speak. They were among the first people to greet Europeans. These tribes were completely interdependent with the eastern forests, rivers, land and the Atlantic Ocean. Learn how they have preserved traditions while embracing today's lifestyles.

Date Published:2005

Frome Oral to Written

Highway, Tomson

Aboriginal Canadians tell their own stories, about their own people, in their own voice, from their own perspective. If as recently as forty years ago there was no recognizable body of work by Canadian writers, as recently as thirty years ago there was no Native literature in this country. Perhaps a few books had made a dent on the national consciousness: The Unjust Society by Harold Cardinal, Halfbreed by Maria Campbell, and the poetry of Pauline Johnson and even Louis Riel. Now, three decades later, Native people have a literature that paints them in colours that are psychologically complex and sophisticated. They have a literature that validates their existence, that gives them dignity, that tells them that they and their culture, their ideas, their languages, are important if not downright essential to the long-term survival of the planet.

Date Published:

Grandmother, tell us about regalia

Samatte, Sandra

Children learning about Native Cultural Other books in the series include: Granfather, tell us about the eagle feather Grandmother, tell us about our elders Grandfather, tell us about wild rice Grandmother, tells about the star blanket Grandfather, tell us about the igloo Grandfather, tell us about the inukshuk Grandmother tell us about the four sacred medicines Grandfather, tell us about the totem pole Grandmother, tell us about the tipi.

Date Published:2014

Heroes & Heronines

Beck, Mary L

Date Published:1989

The Hunt

Jackson, Melanie & Dennis

Wapos Bay is a light-hearted, stop-motion animation series about the adventures of three Cree children living in remote northern Saskatchewan. Guided by elders, extended family and their own insatiable curiosity. T-Bear, Talon and Raven learn how to balance traditional ways with newer ones. Dennis and Melanie Jackson created this charming award-winning series. A day on the land turns into a major rescue operation after some animal tracks are misidentified. When the community decides to have a feast to celebrate Kohkum Mary's accomplishments, T-Bear, Talon, Mushom (grandfather), Alphonse Jacob and Uncle Peter set off in search of a moose to feed every. The trip goes awry when a mother moose asher call are wounded and have to be found. In Wapos Bay: The Hunt, both jTalon and T-Bear learn first-hand how important their Moshum's traditional knowledge is. They also discover that they each have very special hunting skills.

Date Published:2008

North Spirit

Jiles, Paulette

Date Published:1995

Dare to Get Bear / Beading Stars

McIntyre Media

This is the story of Louis, an Aboriginal elder, whose mission in life is to help the people in his community in any way he can. Louis is getting older and it's getting harder for him to help people on his own. So he decides to recruit Randy, a 10 year old boy to help him with his work. Every day Louis gives Randy a task. But there is one problem: Louis mostly speaks Cree and Randy only speaks English. How can Randy help Louis if he can't understand his instructions? in order for Randy to fully understand Louis instructions he first needs to learn what the Cree words mean. Grades: JK - 1. Dare to Get the Bear: Louis uses both English and Cree words to tell Randy that Emily's son is sick and that he needs to get him a maskohkân (teddy bear) to make him feel better. Randy thinks maskohkân means a bear's fang. Mr. Thompson tells Randy that maskohkan means teddy bear and not a bear's fang. Beading Stars: Louis tells Randy that Mrs. Charles need mekisuk (beads). Katie thinks the word means berries. Randy, Katie and Anne go to pick up berries for Mrs. Charles. When they arrive at Mrs. Charles' house they learn that the word for berries is menisu not mekisuk which means beads.

Date Published:2013

Wise Women

Turner, Erin

Remarkable short stories of Native American Trailblzers Wise Women brings together their amazing stories. Encompassing states from Florida to Alaska and many different tribes, it preserves the legacies of wise women who were caught between two cultures, and yet worked tenaciously to preserve the traditions of their tribes and to teach others.

Date Published:2009