Three Feathers by Richard Van Camp Van Camp’s debut graphic novel in the Debwe Series features the healing powers of restorative justice. Three young Native men’s anger at their community manifests into violence and stealing. After being arrested, they are sent for nine months to live off the land. Elders teach them how to live in a respectful relationship with the land, their provider and best teacher. This relationship helps define everyone’s character and values: respect, humility, caring, and sharing. They learn how fire is medicine representing a living force that must never go out and how every child is born with a special gift and talent to discover and share with the community. “For the first time these men feel the heartbeat of the land…and hear the whispers of their ancestors.” They find their gifts and their voices but is the community ready to listen? Caution: Includes some graphic violence. |
Honouring the Buffalo by Judith Silverthorne Grandfather tells his young grandson the story of how the buffalo offered themselves to the Creator long ago to help “the two-leggeds” survive. In return, the Plains Cree would honour them forever. The full-page illustrations carry us back in time to appreciate the traditional ways of Plains Cree life and how the buffalo sustained every aspect of their existence. Beside each page of artwork is a page of the legend in both English and Cree (Y dialect). The back pages enhance the story with photographs of “Things Made From Buffalo”, buffalo facts, and an “Educational Guide” including questions and research activities. |
Grey Eyes by Frank Christopher Busch Inspired by the birth of his own grey-eyed child, Busch sought out the traditional Grey-Eye legends. He blended what little had been retained throughout the last century with long-standing First Nations and Métis teachings to create the culture and lifestyle depicted in his debut novel. Set long ago, a baby boy is born to the poorest lodge of the Nehiyawak people. Immediately recognizing his Grey-Eye magic, the family realizes that their situation has changed. As Little Grey Bear Boy grows up and is trained, a danger for both him and his community grows stronger. Life lived by the traditional teachings is threatened by one final violent, magic-fueled struggle between good and evil. Caution: Contains considerable graphic violence including injury and death. Magic plays a considerable role in the plot as does the portrayal of traditional Aboriginal teachings and practices. |
Take Us to Your Chief: And Other Stories by Drew Hayden Taylor This collection of nine short stories combines 1950s-era science fiction with First Nations perspectives, and includes stories on alien invasion, government conspiracies, and time travel. These stories mirror the encounters First Nations people had with the arrival of Europeans in North America, as well as the modern struggles First Nations people experience. Caution: occasional use of profanity. |
Will I See? by David A. Roberston Will I See? is a dark graphic novel, addressing the topic of violence against Indigenous women. A teenage girl finds unique and meaningful trinkets that have been left by missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women. With her grandmother’s help she makes a necklace of the found items; during her own trials she finds strength through the previous owners. The illustrator’s gritty black-and-white images underline the story’s elements of magical realism. Although the artist never clearly depicts the real-life monsters in the book, they are terrifying because readers know that they do actually exist. Sparingly used, the colour red provides impact throughout the greyscale pages. The images can be disturbing. |