Motherless for years, and now orphaned when a hunting accident takes her father's life, Jenna Sinclair is in the care of her prim Aunt Grace, who always finds fault with Jenna's high spirits and tendency to break rules. Jenna finds kindred spirits in her Grandmother, one of the Home Guard Cree who lives near Fort Edmonton, and with her friend Suzanne. But even then, Jenna is still eager to have more freedom, and daydreams of finding Adventure with a capital A. Opportunity knocks after Jenna moves southwest with her newly-married aunt to Fort Colvile, and begs her aunt to let her attend a "real" school at Fort Victoria on Vancouver's Island. With a small brigade, she begins a sometimes harrowing journey down rivers and over mountains to her new life. But the teachers at the new school are even more strict than her aunt, and she can't find a friend as likeable as Suzanne. Ever restless, Jenna wants the kind of excitement worthy of being included in a Novel. By sneaking outside the fort walls, spying on the Company officers, even visiting the forbidden Songhees village, she sometimes finds more than she bargained for. As Jenna faithfully records her observations of the world around her — bringing the reader "inside the walls" of three very different HBC posts — she makes surprising discoveries about herself, and about Heroes, Villains and the places where Adventure can truly be found.

The Land Is Our Storybook is a first-ever series of ten books for children about the diverse lands and cultures of the Northwest Territories. Mindy Willett, an educational consultant and former teacher from Yellowknife, has worked with storytellers - Elders and cultural leaders - from ten regions in the territory to capture real stories of everyday life as it exists today. Told in a uniquely diverse range of northern voices, with a child-centred approach, books in The Land Is Our Storybook series highlight each official Indigenous language group in the NWT, revealing a richly textured picture of life in the North - on the trapline, around the campfire, in communities, at school, and within the outdoor school that is the land itself. The series celebrates the seasons, ages, genders, traditional activities, and communities of the NWT. The stories are illustrated by the striking images of acclaimed northern photographer, Tessa Macintosh, and depict the similarities in lifestyle between children of the North and South, as well as the marked cultural differences, and highlight the special relationship these Indigenous people have with the land and how they are adapting to rapid change while remaining connected to the land. Images of the landscape and animals within it, of trapping, hunting, fishing, and bannock-baking sit alongside pictures of children at school, swimming at recreation centres, and reading in libraries. Here is modern Northern culture painted beautifully: a complex mix of the new and the old. These wonderful books, written with a variety of provincial and territorial curricula in mind, are specially designed for the classroom and include special features such as glossaries relating details on animals biology and cultural definitions, regional and language maps. The text of the stories also have sidebars such as "Our Stories", which contain the stories of the people and language group featured, and "Our Words", which highlight words in the featured language that are important to the story. The tenth and final book in the series will come with a CD of stories told in the languages featured in the books and a Teacher guide for the entire series.

"Wawahte is one of the few books that I would strongly recommend to anyone who needs to understand Aboriginal issues in Canada. This book should be part of our school curricula."- Dave Loftus
"By shining the light on a dark part of our past we have a chance to create a bright new day for aboriginals and all Canadians. We will all know what happened and then come to realize that what happens now and our vision for a future together is what really counts. Together we will stand for what is right and the intention of Indian residential schools and colonization will not happen again!” - Chief Bert Joseph, Executive Director”

For teachers who hear about residential schools often, but don't know how to approach the subject in the classroom.

The vast open plains of the prairies drew thousands of settlers to the Canadian West. But what of the people who already inhabited these lands? The federal government promised to care for the Indigenous people in perpetuity and in return, the nomadic peoplos would sign treaties, settle on reserves, and learn to be farmers. Many Indigenous people, including those led by Chief Cowessess, camped and hunted in the Cypress Hills where there was plenty of game, water, and wood. Forced out of the Hills by the government and driven by hunger to a reserve in the Qu'Appelle Valley, Cowessess and his people were successful farmers, but they had little control over what was supposed to be their land. The story of life on reserves after treaty is a story of power: the power of Indian Affairs. Indian agents controlled every aspect of life on and off reserve - the dreaded pass system and permission slips needed to sell farm produce, or not as it suited the agents; the instructors whose job it was to transform hunters into farmers; the Residential school system, and the questionable surrender of reserve land. Yet, this book does not make a political statement. It does not judge the actions of the government, its agents, or anyone else. In an impartial voice, this book relates things as they were, and points to the many successes of Indigenous peoples despite the many challenges they faced. This book is a story of triumph over adversity and oppression. In this very personal account of life on an Indian reserve and in Residential schools, Harold LeRat, with the assistance of writer Linda Ungar, relates the history of the Cowessess people based on stories told by elders, research he did in connection with the land surrender, and his own recollections. In many ways, this book provides a look at the Indian reality of the lives of many First Nations peoples and the development of reserves on the Prairies. Anyone interested in the history of the west will treasure this book.

Through his own words and paintings, acclaimed Native artist George Littlechild takes us back in time to the first meeting between his Plains Cree ancestors and the first European settlers in North America. In This Land Is My Land, George intimately and honestly shares with readers how he discovered his Native heritage and what it means to him. He recounts the history of his people and expresses his wish to use his art to portray the wonders of his heritage, and to heal the pain of his people's history. *Winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award for Picture Book (1994)

A young First Nations woman struggles with her identity in the big city. After a series of events, she realizes she can still be Anishinaabe, and in fact, it is her responsibility.

Three of the most well-known and respected Métis artists in Canada collaborate in this heart wrenching telling of what it means to be Métis. Bouchard's heartfelt story is illustrated by prominent Métis artist Dennis Weber. Included on the accompanying CD, with reading in English/French and Michif, is the Red River Jig performed by acclaimed Master Métis Fiddler John Arcand. The Métis in Canada, birthed in the mixing of nations, are the only people in the world recognized by every level of government (except in Quebec) as being a Nation. The Métis have their own languages, flag, songs and stories. They have exciting traditions and a proud history. Sadly, their journey was one of hardships, denial and often lies. In The Secret of Your Name, these three men open their hearts to all those who care to know what it means when it is said that we are Proud to be Métis! This spectacular book will appeal to any and all who have an interest in Indigenous peoples in Canada. It will call out to art collectors, musicians and all who have ever pondered their own past.

The Scout, is the story of Tommy Prince, a decorated Indigenous war hero, and his exploits on the European battlefields of the Second World War. The Scout is one book in the Tales from Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique six-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of some of the great Indigenous heroes of the past—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 Social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of Social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills. *Winner of the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA) 2014 Public Communications Author; Shortlisted for the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration, 2014; Approved for Manitoba Classrooms

The Rebel is the story of Gabriel Dumont, his role in the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, and the Métis of Batoche. The Rebel is one book in the Tales from Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique six-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of some of the great Indigenous heroes of the past—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 Social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of Social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills. *Selected by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for Inclusion in Best Books for Kids & Teens; Recommended Text Grade 4 Module 1A NYS Common Core ELA; Approved Resource for Manitoba Classrooms.