Intermediate Senior English

The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese; Bridget George (Illustrator) Accompanied by award-winning illustrator Bridget George's luminous artwork, this tradition-steeped story from renowned author Richard Wagamese meditates on the unifying powers of wisdom, kindness and respect with all the visionary clarity of our most essential legends. The unmistakable voice of revered Ojibway author Richard Wagamese returns with this moving tale, beautifully illustrated by original work from Anishinaabe artist Bridget George. The story unfolds in a "Long Ago Time" when animals of all kinds share a common language and gather to solemnly consider which of them should be their leader. After hearing boasts about the qualities of the candidates--Horse's fleetness, Buffalo's stamina, Cougar's patience, Wolverine's stealth--the conference decides to settle the matter with a race between the challengers around a foreboding mountaintop lake. And there will be one more contestant of the most unlikely sort: a small, charmingly humble rabbit named Waabooz, whose chances are considered slim by all. In the action that follows, described with the piercing clarity and richness of any great legend, Wagamese and George gracefully convey the limits of physical force and the quietly irresistible energies of humility, empathy and a loving attachment to the land. Unforgettable for its lyrical power and poignant message, The Animal People Choose a Leader is yet another example of the late author's unique gifts as a storyteller, and a welcome reminder of his honoured place in Canadian writing.

Bannock in a Hammock by Masiana Kelly; Amiel Sandland (Illustrator) Big or small, sweet or savoury, with stew or with sprinkles, there are tons of ways to enjoy bannock! This sweet and simple rhyming book explores a food that is a popular tradition with Inuit and other Indigenous people, and has some fun along the way. What's your favourite way to eat bannock? Try it at home with the included bannock recipe! Written by Inuk/Dene writer Masiana Kelly, this sweet and simple narrative celebrates this delicious food!

Dad, I Miss You by Nadia Sammurtok; Simji Park (Illustrator) This story is dedicated to the author's mother and father, both of whom are residential school survivors. Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential school. While the child's internal monologue expresses his fear, confusion, and loss, the father's monologue conveys his own sadness, fears, and hopes for the future of his child. The narrative gives voice to the things left unsaid between a parent and child experiencing this heart-rending separation. Upon his return to his community, when father and son are reunited, they must start the long process of reconnection. Based on the author's family history of residential school separation, this book provides a unique perspective on the difficult cycle of loss, reconnection, and regaining hope for the future.

Boozhoo! / Hello! by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley; Mary Ann Corbiere (Translator) Hello! Who do you see and hear in the woods today? Meet a variety of woodland and water animals in this story written in Anishinaabemowin and English. Can you see a fox digging, spot two minnows dancing or hear a swarm of bees buzzing? Boozhoo! / Hello! introduces children to familiar animals as they go about their daily activities: walking, running, swimming, climbing and finally -- when the day is done -- sleeping! Illustrated in a vibrant and colorful Woodland style that will appeal to readers young and old alike, and accompanied by an author's note. Key Text Features Author's note translations illustrations   Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Hummingbird / Aamo-Binashee by Jennifer Leason; Norman Chartrand (Translator) Remember the hummingbird's teachings. Remember you are loved. Kokum warned us to watch out for one another. If we weren't careful, Windigo would eat us. But one night, alone in the darkness, I felt its breath on my neck. Windigo's lies crept into my heart, and I believed them. When we lose connection with others, we lose ourselves, and Windigo's darkness grows and spreads. In this deeply emotional and beautifully illustrated picture book, the ancestors send a hummingbird to a child lost in Windigo's darkness. Its teachings of resilience, love and connection bring the child home and remind us that our ancestors are always watching and can help us find our way if we only ask. This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Anishinaabemowin.

Who We Are by Murray Sinclair; Sara Sinclair (As told to); Niigaan Sinclair (As told to) Named a Book to Read This Fall by CBC Books and the Toronto Star . One of Indigo's Most Anticipated Books and Top 100 Books of the 2024 . An Audible Best Book of 2024 . One of Kobo CA's Best Biography and Memoir Ebooks of the Year . One of CBC's Best Canadian Nonfiction of 2024 Judge, senator, and activist. Father, grandfather, and friend. This is Murray Sinclair's story-and the story of a nation-in his own words, an oral history that forgoes the trappings of the traditionally written memoir to center Indigenous ways of knowledge and storytelling. As Canada moves forward into the future of Reconciliation, one of its greatest leaders guides us to ask the most important and difficult question we can ask of ourselves- Who are we? For decades, Senator Sinclair has fearlessly educated Canadians about the painful truths of our history. He was the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba, and only the second Indigenous judge in Canadian history. He was the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and remains one of the foremost voices on Reconciliation. And now, for the first time, he shares his full story-and his full vision for our nation-with readers across Canada and beyond. Drawing on Senator Sinclair's perspectives regarding Indigenous identity, human rights, and justice, Who We Are examines the roles of history, resistance, and resilience in the pursuit of finding a path forward, one that heals the damaged relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. In doing so, it reveals Senator Sinclair's life in a new and direct way, exploring how all of these unique experiences have shaped him as an Anishinaabe man, father, and grandfather. Structured around the four questions that have long shaped Senator Sinclair's thinking and worldview-Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? Who am I?-Who We Are takes readers into the story of his remarkable life as never before, while challenging them to embrace an inclusive vision for our shared future. The book includes the What We Have Learned report, created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).

The Baby Train by Stella Shepard Thrust into the foster care system from an early age, Apple moves from house to house on Prince Edward Island without finding a home until she's a teenager and taken in by a couple who never managed to have children themselves. When she falls pregnant, her foster parents are keen to raise the baby with Apple still in the house--to live as a family. That opportunity is torn from Apple by members of the Catholic Church along with social workers and government officials. Their vicious practices take the babies of unwed mothers and give them to wealthy families in exchange for large "donations" to the church. Apple's beloved baby ends up with a rich couple in the U.S., and is lost to her. The Baby Train traces her life in the aftermath of that loss, raising subsequent children, creating deep bonds of friendship with other women struggling against society's rigid norms, and carrying underneath it all an unending love for her firstborn child. We also follow her baby's path, and watch his affluent, neglected childhood and then adulthood unfold. He never knows that his birth mother still yearns for him, still lights him birthday candles every year. The shameful legacy of forced and coerced adoption in Eastern Canada is brought to life in this sweeping sequel to Ashes of My Dreams.

Little Moons by Alice RL (Colorist (comics)); Jen Storm; Ryan Howe (Illustrator); Nickolej Villiger (Letterer (comics)) In this moving graphic novel, thirteen-year-old Reanna grieves the loss of her older sister. Can she find comfort through her family's Ojibwe traditions? It's been a year since Reanna's sister, Chelsea, went missing on her way home from school. Without any idea of what happened, Reanna and her family struggle to find closure. Driven from her home by memories, Reanna's mom moves to the big city. Left behind on the reserve, Reanna and her little brother go to live with their dad. Reanna is hurt and angry that her mom has run away. She feels lonely and abandoned...but she is not alone. Lights turn on in empty rooms, and objects move without being touched. There are little moons everywhere.

Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber; Alina Pete (Illustrator); Jillian Dolan (Colorist (comics)) ★"Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children's nonfiction collection." -- School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review It takes courage and bravery to survive in the barrens. In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada. This is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many challenges, including freezing temperatures, wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. With no food or supplies, she relies on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family. Ilse uses her connection to the land and animals, wilderness skills and resilience to find her way home. This powerful tale of survival is written by Ilse Schweder's granddaughter.

Medicine Wheel for the planet : a journey toward personal and ecological healing by Jennifer Grenz "A farm kid at heart, and a Nlaka'pamux woman of mixed ancestry, Dr. Jennifer Grenz always felt a deep connection to the land. Which is why, after nearly two decades of working as a restoration ecologist in the Pacific Northwest, she became frustrated that she and her colleagues weren't making the meaningful change needed for plant, animal and human communities to adapt to a warming climate. She began to question the central conceit of restoration ecology: that somehow, we must return the natural world to an untouched, pristine state, placing humans in a godlike role—a notion at odds with Indigenous histories of purposeful, reciprocal interaction with the environment. This disconnect sent Dr. Grenz on a journey of joining her head (Western science) and her heart (Indigenous worldview) to find a truer path toward ecological healing. In Medicine Wheel for the Planet, building on sacred stories, field observation and personal experience, Dr. Grenz invites readers to share in the teachings of the four directions of the medicine wheel: the North, which draws upon the knowledge and wisdom of elders; the East, where we let go of colonial narratives and see with fresh eyes; the South, where we apply new-old worldviews to envision a way forward; and the West, where a relational approach to land reconciliation is realized. Eloquent, inspiring and disruptive, Medicine Wheel for the Planet circles in on an argument that a multiplicity of worldviews are required to safeguard our Earth".--from publisher website.