Our Words Our Ways
Using Literature to Access Worldviews
Task: Choose a storybook and work with a partner to identify and briefly explain the
connections that FNMI peoples hold to the land and animals.
As you examine various stories, you are looking at a philosophy and a perspective that
shows something about the worldview of a particular nation.
Book Title A Boy Called Slow
Author Joseph Bruchac
Nation Dakota
Big Idea: Coming of Age
-names of children were based on how the child acted. Later to be changed either
through special dreams/initiatives.
-the more you helped people, the more you were respected. It was about the individual
but more about the community. You kept what you needed but were generous in
sharing with others; you didn’t hoard resources.
- importance lay in the connection between nature/animals/people
-coming of age tended to happen early (14 yrs) but also depended on individual’s
desire/preparedness to do so.
- decisions in this process were made by the individual but always supported/facilitated
by parents.
Book Title Mwakwa Talks to the Loon: A Cree Story
Author Dale Auger
Nation Cree
Central Idea is relationship with kitaskinaw (the land)
-respect nature and its gifts
-natural order
-acknowledge gifts with celebrations
-look to Elders to unlock the spiritual connection to the land – refocus the younger
generation
-people willing to share their gifts
-the land and the animals are forgiving
-adherence to principles will ensure that the land will meet your needs
Book Title The Gifts of the Inuksuk
Author Mike Ulmer
Nation Inuit
-Inuit people use:
-cotton grass for lamp wicks
-bird bones for fine needles
-teeth of caribou for ornaments
-caribou, bear and seal supply skins for clothing and tents, tendons for thread
-animals know they give their lives so the Inuit can live
-whale blubber is used for food and for lamp oil
-snow is used to build houses, and is melted for water
-stones are used for Inuksuk
-all of these are considered gifts from the land
Book Title Buffalo Woman
Author Paul Goble
Nation Lakota
Central Idea: We are all related, interconnected
Themes:
Love
Relationships
Perspectives
Respect for Animals
Symbols from nature
Respect for diversity
Courage
Interconnections
Book Title The Frog Princess
Author retold by Eric A Kimmel
Nation Tlingit
-Strong connection to both land and animals
-the princess chose a frog groom over a wealthy male suitor
-animals are humanized
-she was happy with the frog people and their ways, but she shared her culture too
(taught the frogs her language)
-frogs strongly connected to water, the moon and emotions (she followed her heart)
Book Title The Elders Are Watching
Author David Bouchard
Nation West Coast/Tsartlip
-the land and the animals are like teachers. They bring you knowledge.
-the elders are watching how people respect the land.
-we are entrusted with the gifts of the land and animals and we are expected to take
care of it because without it we die.
-when you hurt the land and animals, you hurt the people.
-we need to respect the animals – hunting for thrill vs hunting for food.
-listen carefully to the land and the people.