This past weekend, on August 9th, was the International Day of Indigenous Peoples. While I put up a post on that day, I’d like to go more into some of my recent Indigenous reads and make a commitment to try and read more widely when it comes to Indigenous topics, as most of my reads come from the US/Canada.
I will be talking about two books, the first of which I got from NetGalley, called Charlotte’s New Moccasins by Jenn Moudahi and illustrated by Rhael McGregor. It is a short picture book that tells the story of a young girl getting new moccasins. As her grandmother makes them, she learns about the history behind the important shoes and how they connect her with not only her grandmother, but her people’s past in general.
Charlotte’s New Moccasins
I found this to be a great little book, and I’m always interested in seeing more Indigenous content when it comes to children’s books. This book was four stars. There was a great story, I think young readers will love. There are also wonderful illustrations with bright colors that I think will appeal to all readers. I also liked the bit of history that was added at the back of the book, which dealt with what moccasins meant to the different Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The text also talked about the way that moccasins were crafted, as well as different materials.
I’d give this book four stars, for the story, the illustration, and the historical context that was added in. I think it will be popular among young readers and is a great addition to any library or home collection.
You Were Made for this World
The second book I’m going to talk about is called You Were Made for This World. It is an anthology with Stephanie and Sara Sinclair as the editors. It is a short book under two hundred pages that focuses on elders from different tribes and walks of life talking and encouraging young people. This book is a little bit more focused on older elementary school children.
It is still written in a very easy-to-digest style, but some of the concepts are a little more complicated. Though I think it would also be a great book for someone to read aloud to a young child. I like that the Sinclairs did this to help memorialize their father’s story and included other elders who had important things to say to young tribal members.
A big theme in the book was the importance of young people and how it’s the job of others in the tribe to watch out for and support young people’s dreams. It is a refreshing take on the role of young people in society. Though I’ll admit I don’t know enough to know if this is a new or historical take.
The book includes contributions from activist Autumn Peltier, singer/songwriter Tanya Tagaq, hockey player Ethan Bear, Governor General’s Award–winning author David A. Robertson, artists Chief Lady Bird and Christi Belcourt, illustrator Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, and dozens of others.
I hope you will give these books a chance and pick them up for yourself or someone you know. I’m going to try and provide more selections of recent Indigenous works as I become apprised of them.
About the Authors Â
Jenn Moudahi is a Métis author, clinical counselor, and mom. Stories are a common thread in her life—she writes them as an author, listens to them as a counselor, escapes into them as a reader, and allows too many at bedtime as a mom. Growing up, Jenn spent countless hours with her own mom learning to create Indigenous art, often helping to teach workshops throughout British Columbia. Jenn lives in Western Canada with her husband, two kids, and two purrfect cats. This is her first picture book.
Rhael McGregor is a Winnipeg-based, Métis, and Two-Spirit/queer artist. Since stepping into storytelling in 2018, Rhael has been passionately telling stories as a writer and illustrator in hopes of all readers being able to see themselves in books. They love the winter, sweet treats, and doing beadwork for family and friends. They also illustrated Noodin’s Perfect Day. http://www.rhaelmcgregor.com –This text refers to the hardcover edition.
STEPHANIE SINCLAIRÂ is Publisher of McClelland & Stewart, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada. She is a Cree, Ojibwe, and German/Jewish settler. She is a fierce advocate and activist, serving as a mentor and curator, and organizing publishing events to challenge colonial practices in publishing and to advance the work of reconciliation. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with her two children.
SARA SINCLAIR is an oral historian of Cree-Ojibwa, German/Jewish, and British descent. Sara teaches in the Oral History Masters Program at Columbia University. She is the editor of How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America and gave a TEDx talk on “Why We Need to Amplify Indigenous Voices” in 2021. She lives in New York, New York.
Photo by Matthew Baliga
Rose's Book Garden 