We are continuing the series of posts about Learning Native American Culture. The Indians of the Northeast (Maine to Virginia and west to Minnesota) are the ones the early American settlers came into contact with. As librarians we must ensure that our patrons move beyond the Disney stereotype portrayed in Pocahontas. Disney abandoned historical accuracy in favor of a New Age Pocahontas. The books I’ve chosen for this column portray a more accurate view of the Native Americans of the Northeast.
Many time books about Native Americans will contain information about the traditional religion of the people. As a Christian, this is always something to consider before placing a book in your library. If you have Native Americans who have become Christians leaving traditional beliefs behind or those whom you are witnessing to, encouraging them to leave their traditional religious beliefs, you will certainly want to keep this in mind. I have tried to alert you to such information in my reviews.
You may wonder why I chose to exclude THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER by Elizabeth George Speare. While this Newberry Honor book is an excellent book and worthy of consideration for inclusion in your library , the Indian tribe is not identified. In his book NATIVE AMERICANS IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, Jon Stott recommends several guidelines for choosing books about Native peoples. One of these recommendations is that the originating culture of a story should be identified as specifically as possible. I did not find THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER to meet this recommendation so I left it out of this list.
My favorite from this list is Joseph Bruchac’s THE HEART OF A CHIEF. It brings up many issues today’s native young people face: life in an Anglo world, alcoholism of a family member, casinos on tribal land, and the use of Indian terms for sports teams. Mr. Bruchac does an excellent job of telling the native side of these somewhat controversial issues.
PENACOOK
THE HEART OF A CHIEF by Joseph Bruchac. (Dial Books for Young Redaers, 1998, 0-8037-2276-1, HB, $15.99, 160 p., Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 2001, 014131236X, PB, 160 p.)
Gr. 5-7 His father is in an alcohol rehab center. His off-reservation school is insensitive to Native Americans. His people are in the midst of a controversy over a casino. Eleven-year-old Chris faces many of the same issues faced by Native Americans everywhere. Chris, a Penacook Indian descended from chiefs, becomes a leader in his school and among his Penacook people showing he has the heart of a chief. His sixth grade class, as the result of a class project, makes the community aware of how Natives feel about team names like Chiefs or Redskins. He is also able to suggest a compromise to the casino controversy that, while not eliminating the idea, makes it less intrusive in the community. Author Joseph Bruchac chose to set The Heart of a Chief on a reservation that does not exist. While there is not federally recognized Penacook community, the Penacook are one of the Abenaki nations. Mr. Bruchac is an Abenaki who has worked with Indian students.
IROQUOIS
THE IROQUOIS by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Ronald Himler. (Holiday House, 1995, 0-8234-1663-X, HB, 32p.)
Gr. 3-5 The Iroquois by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve is “A First Americans Book.” Ms. Sneve grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. She opens the book with a re-telling of the Iroquois creation story. She also includes history of the Iroquois people. Duties and lives of men, women, and children are explored. Traditional food, spiritual beliefs and wampum are also explained. The book closes with a description of the Iroquois today. Romald Himler’s illustrations will help students visualize unfamiliar concepts. If students need a reference book on the Iroquois, The Iroquois by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve is a good choice.
MOHAWK
GIVING THANKS: A NATIVE AMERICAN GOOD MORNING MESSAGE by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup. (Lee and Low Books, 1995, 1-880000-15-6, HB, 24p. Scholastic, Inc., 1997, 0-590-10884-0, PB, 24p.)
Gr. K-4 Giving Thanks is based on the traditional Thanksgiving Address of the Iroquois people. The thanksgiving prayer is addressed to Mother Earth, the animals, Spirit Protectors, the Great Spirit, and different parts of the creation; each for their part in providing life as we know it. The book shows the Native American practice of worshipping the creation. Chief Swamp and Mr. Printup are both Native Americans and know their subject well. Chief Swamp has included the Mohawk translation of the book. Mr. Printup’s acrylic paintings are bold in color and seem to accurately depict the text. Giving Thanks is a good example of a traditional Native American prayer.
THE MOHAWKS OF NORTH AMERICA by Connie Ann Kirk. (Lerner, 2002, 0-8225-4853-4, HB, 48p.)
Gr. 2-6 The Mohawks of North America is part of Lerner Publications “First Peoples” series. The Mohawk people are part of the Iroquois League. Mohawk people traditionally lived in New York, Ontario, and Quebec along the St. Lawrence River. The Mohawks of North America is a reference book that would be useful to late elementary students. It contains information on the traditional lands of the Mohawk, their culture, their history and their life today. Author Connie Ann Kirk is a member of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois League. The book ends with a glossary of terms and a list of books, videos, websites, and organizations that can provide additional information.
MOHEGAN
TURTLE CLAN JOURNEY by Lynda Durrant. (Clarion Books, 1999, 0-395-90369-6, HB, 180p.)
Gr. 5-7 Turtle Clan Journey is the sequel to Lynda Durrant’s Echohawk. During the 18th century as many as 30% of Eastern Woodlands Native Americans were captives. Some were, as Echohawk was, white captives. Others were captives from other tribes. Many had been taken captive to replace loved ones who had died. Echohawk and his Mohegan father and brother are the only members of their clan left. While traveling to better lands, they learn of the ransom being paid for white captives. Echohawk is captured and returned to his white aunt. He later escapes and returns to his Native family. Turtle Clan Journey is the story of the family’s journey to a safer place to live. The reader learns how traveling Native Americans survived and of the fierce practices of some Native tribes. Lynda Durrant has taken a portion of Native American history and written the story of one captive and his desire to remain Native.
NASHUA
A RIVER RAN WILD by Lynne Cherry. (Voyager Books/Harcourt, 2002, 0-15-216372-7, PB 40p.
Gr. 1-4 This Reading Rainbow book is the environmental history of the Nashua River in Massachusetts. The Nashua River area was settled in the 1400’s by people of the Pennacook Confederacy who became known as the Nashua Indians. A River Ran Wild tells the history of the Nashua River; how it started as a river so clear you could see the pebbles at the bottom to a smelly sewer and back to a clean river. The story of a place does not exist without the story of its inhabitants. A River Ran Wild tells the story of the Nashua Indians who first inhabited the area, the settlers who came in, the factory owners who destroyed the river, and descendants of both the Nashua people and white people who worked to restore the river. Lynne Cherry’s text and illustrations show the research that went into this book. Her watercolor and colored pencil artwork show many aspects of life along the Nashua River.
OJIBWA/OJIBWAY/OJIBWE/CHIPPEWA
DREAMCATCHER by Audrey Osofsky illustrated by Ed Young. (Orchard Books, 1992, 0-531-05988-X, 32p.)
Gr. K-3 While the Ojibway baby sleeps in the cradleboard on his mother’s back, big sister weaves a dream net to hang on baby’s cradleboard. Dreamcatcher takes the reader through a day in the land of the Ojibway. Some of the daily activities of the people are described from the baby’s perspective. The story also describes the bad dreams caught in the dream net before they can disturb Baby’s sleep. Dreamcatchers do hold spiritual significance for Native Americans. Audrey Osofsky uses free verse to tell the story. Ed Young’s pastel illustrations have a dreamlike quality.
GRANDMOTHER’S DREAMCATCHER by Becky Ray McCain, illustrated by Stacey Schuett. (Albert Whitman, 1998, 0-8075-3032-8, PB, 32p.)
Gr. 1-3 Kimmy is going to be staying at Grandmother’s for a week without her parents. Her first night, before her parents leave, she has bad dreams. The next day Grandmother shows her a dreamcatcher and together they make one so that Kimmy will only have good dreams. Grandmother tells Kimmy the story of the first dreamcatcher. It caught all the dreams and sent them to the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit only allowed the sweet dreams to get to the owner of the dreamcatcher. Stacey Schuett’s colored artwork depicts the story well, even showing the scariness of Kimmy’s dream. Becky Ray McCain uses a modern-day story to explain the use of dreamcatchers. Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher ends with instructions for making your own dreamcatcher.
ININATIG’S GIFT OF SUGAR by Laura Waterman Wittstock, photographs by Dale Kakkak. (Lerner Publications, 1993, 0-8225-2653-0, HB, 48p.)
Gr. 1-4 The Ojibway call the maple tree Ininatig or the man tree. Author Laura Wittstock, a Seneca Indian, weaves traditional Ojibway stories about maple sugar in with the story of a modern sugarbush camp run by an Ojibway elder. The photographs of Dale Kakkak, a Menominee Indian, show the process of maple sugar making and the activities of the sugarbush camp. Students will learn how maple syrup, sugar, and candy are made while reading Ininatig’s Gift of Sugar. Ininatig’s Gift of Sugar is part of Lerner Publications “We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today” series. Native Americans are involved with the editing and illustrating of the series.
MORNING ON THE LAKE by Jan Bourdeau Waboose illustrated by Karen Reczuch. (Kids Can Press, 1997, 0-55074-373-2, HB, 32p.)
Gr. 1-3 Morning on the Lake is three stories about the relationship between an Ojibway grandfather and grandson, between man and nature. Mishomis, the grandfather, introduces Noshen to nature. In “Morning” the two travel out on a lake in the quiet early morning and see a family of loons. In “Noon” they hike through a forest and climb a steep cliff. They are rewarded by an encounter with an eagle. In “Night” Mishomis takes Noshen on a late night walk through the forest. Noshen is scared by wolves that come close. Author Jan Waboose is an Ojibway and well acquainted with the traditions of her people. Illustrator Karen Reczuch’s realistic artwork vividly shows the setting of the story.
SKYSISTERS by Jan Bourdeau Waboose, illustrated by Brian Deines. (Kids Can Press, 2000, 1-55074-697-9, HB, 32p.)
Gr. K-3 It is wintertime. The two Ojibway sisters climb a high hill in order to view the Sky Spirits, the Northern Lights. The girls struggle to remember their grandmother’s words, “Wisdom comes on silent wings.” When they remember to be quiet they see a snowshoe rabbit and white-tailed deer. They also trade howls with a coyote. Some Ojibway beliefs are subtly included. References to Grandmother Moon, Mother Earth, and Sky Spirits are included in the text. Author Jan Waboose is an Ojibway who writes from her experiences growing up in Ontario. The oil paintings of Brian Deines beautifully illustrate the text.
THUNDERBIRD GOLD by Nat Reed. (Journey Forth, 1997, 0-89084-919-6, PB, 154p.)
Gr. 3-6 Calvin’s world seems to be falling apart. He’s up north with his cousin Eric away from his parents while they try to work things out. His first morning he goes with Eric and Willis, an Ojibwa to help some professors who are examining some local pictographs. The three solve the mystery of the pictographs with the help of Will’s granddad. They compete with some treasure hunters to find the treasure the pictographs talk about. In the course of the story Will’s granddad leads Calvin to Christ before he is killed by the treasure hunters. Mr. Reed interspersed chapters about Ojibwa history into the modern day story. Mr. Reed spent time in a Native American community when he was growing up. He used those experiences in Thunderbird Gold.
TROUBLE AT FORT LA POINTE by Kathleen Ernst. (Pleasant Company Publications, 2000, 1-58485-086-8, PB 164p.)
Gr. 5 & up The daughter of a French voyageur and an Ojibwe woman uses her knowledge of both cultures to solve a mystery. The year is 1732. Suzette’s father must pay his debt to the fur trading company or he will have to return to Montreal for the winter leaving his family behind. His only hope is to win the trapper’s competition. Unfortunately, someone steals some of the furs and Suzette’s father is blamed. Suzette is able to solve the mystery and clear her father’s name. Nominated for the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Children’s Mystery, Trouble at Fort LaPointe is an excellent book. Kathleen Ernst shares Ojibwe life in the 1700’s in this American Girl History Mystery. The reprinted illustrations clearly show what life might have been like.
Classroom Connections
The Heart of a Chief
- Hold a class discussion on the use of Native terms and names by sports teams. Encourage your students to see the side of the Native Americans, especially if you have no Native Americans in your class.
Giving Thanks
- Discuss the differences between the prayer depicted in this book and a prayer your students might say in their family.
A River Ran Wild
- Plan an environmental lesson that would show the students the effects of their actions on the environment.
Ininatig’s Gift of Sugar
- Make pancakes with your class and serve them with real maple sugar.
- If you live in an area where maple sugar and candy are made, arrange a field trip after reading the book so that the class can witness it firsthand.
SkySisters
- If you live in a part of the world where the Northern Lights are not available, you may want to research them with your class to learn more.
Thunderbird Gold
- Do some research into pictographs. Explore how they were used by the ancient Indians. If you live in an area where there are some pictographs, take a field trip to study them. As a class try to decide what they are saying.
Internet Information
ABENAKI INDIANS
www.cowasuck.org – The description at this web site reads “This web site is devoted to the American Indian heritage of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People: Goals, language, traditional lifestyles, history, herbal medicine, newsletter, and web resources.”
MOHAWK
www.wampumchronicles.com – The Wampum Chronicles is a website of Mohawk History.
MOHEGAN
www.mohegan.nsn.us – The page contains links to pages on the history, government, culture and religion and other aspects of the Mohegan tribe. The Community tab has links to lesson plans.
OJIBWA/CHIPPEWA
www.glitc.org – The home page for the Great Lakes Intertribal Council contains links to the sites of the current member of the council.
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Books mentioned in this post
Native Americans in Children’s Literature
The Heart of a Chief
By Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve – The Iroquois (First Americans Books) (1995-03-16) [Hardcover]
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message (Reading Rainbow Books)
The Mohawks of North America (First Peoples)
Turtle Clan Journey: Sequel to Echohawk
A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History
Dreamcatcher
Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher
Ininatig’s Gift of Sugar: Traditional Native Sugarmaking (We Are Still Here : Native Americans Today)
Morning on the Lake
SkySisters
Thunderbird Gold (Light Line)
Trouble at Fort La Pointe (Mysteries through History Book 7)
Read more posts in the Learning About Native American Culture series.
