“A moving father-son reconciliation told by a charismatic First Nations broadcaster, musician and activist.  When his father was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Winnipeg broadcaster and musician Wab Kinew decided to spend a year reconnecting with the accomplished but distant aboriginal man who'd raised him.” (https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/417538/reason-you-walk#9780143193555)

I think this would be appropriate as Wab Kinew is a well-known Canadian and former CBC broadcaster.  Students read about his Father’s past with residential schooling and how Kinew connects with his heritage. I would suggest this is for the more senior readers (High School) due to length and content. I have just finished reading this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  
-Janeth

“Three Day Road is the first novel from Canadian writer Joseph Boyden. Joseph’s maternal grandfather, as well as an uncle on his father’s side, served as soldiers during the First World War, and Boyden draws upon a wealth of family narratives.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Day_Road)

This book has been reviewed as being an excellent read for students in gr.9-12.  I have not read this book.  It has received many awards. It was inspired by real individuals who were heroes.  It explores the time period of the first World War in two different locations, Northern Ontario and Europe. 

-Janeth

This is currently on the 2018 red maple forest of reading list http://www.accessola.org/web/OLA/Forest_of_Reading/Awards_Nominees/Red_Maple__Fiction_Nominees_2018.aspx

This book is a 10 song album by Downie with an accompanying graphic novel by Jeff Lemire.  I think the media use of song and graphics will engage the reluctant reader.  I also think the lyrics and images would resonate strongly with visual and auditory learner.  

-Janeth

This text discusses a day in the life of a young boy. He is taught all about his culture by his grandfather. Throughout the day and throughout various experiences and interactions, the boy’s grandfather shows him the importance of their relationship to the land.

 

This text is appropriate for Intermediate students as it will teach the students of the important relationship that Indigenous people have with nature and Earth. Because the text is in the perspective of the young boy, we are able to see just how much patience and time it takes to grasp a new culture. That is relatable because it is oftentimes difficult to truly understand a culture that is different than what one may be used to. Knowing that it is important to have patience is what needs to be a focus. 

 

This text is about “an Ojibwe man who was taken by Children's Aid as a child and after a series of foster homes finally escapes. Unfortunately his freedom is curtailed when life on the streets results in jail time. To his good fortune his Ojibwe family locates him and he returns to the reserve.”

 

I think this is a good read for Intermediate students because it shows yet another struggle that, not only Indigenous children have faced, but many others as well. I think that this text would generate a lot of important and informative discussions.

 

This novel is about Rain, a young girl of mixed ethnicity. She experiences tragedy and has nobody to truly talk to about her emotions. She finds herself engulfed with grief and decides she is going to attend an Indigenous camp that has sparked a lot of controversies. Here, she discovers her love of photography, and as she continues with this path, it allows her to heal and rebuild her identity. 

 

I think this novel would be a good fit because “the author begins each chapter by selecting writings from Rain's journal. In this way, the reader finds out about Rain's family members, her mother's death, stereotyping, and Native American identity issues. The author has successfully woven issues about grieving, loss, recovery, racism, stereotyping, multiculturalism, and teen life into a good read. The author has created a memorable main character with an extended Native American family.”

This is a text I mentioned in a previous assignment, but I really wanted to include it here as well so that it could go with recommendation. I really like that you get a true memoir of the experience in the residential schools through this text, and that students can catch a glimpse of the mistreatment that occurred at these schools. It also shows that bullying can come not only from peers, but from the adults in your life as well. 

Sydney

I have personally always enjoyed the Dear Canada series of books, as they really put the reader into the perspective of historical events. I realize that the text itself is very similar in purpose to Fatty Legs, however I do like for students to have multiple perspectives of situations, especially as not every child experienced the residential schools in the same way. This textfocuses much more on the journey Violet experiences rather than the rebelling of the school. 

Sydney

I wanted to add a variety of texts to the list. Not only is this a graphic novel and easier for students to read, but it is also a more modern setting, referring to the reserves rather than the residential schools. Here we can see the behavior that has come as a result of the parents being forced into residential schools and never learning themselves how to have a family. I think seeing this side of the results of residential schools is very important for students to see, as it is a much more relevant to their current situation, and it shows that the consequences of Canada’s actions did not end when they closed the schools.

Sydney

I wanted to add a fourth text because I had already used Fatty Legs in a previous assignment and had two books that were already very similar. This text is a little heavier in content, but is the most modern of all the texts I’ve chosen here. The background for the story refers to the many instances of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls, and we see the very real mistreatment of modern day aboriginal people. I think it’s important for students to see these problems and how they’ve have not gone away just yet. The acknowledgement that problems exist is the first step to fixing them. 

Sydney

Although this is a simple text I believe that this would be a good follow up to the Water Monster discussion in that you can further their thinking and discuss how water isn't a renewable resource, and discuss the fact that salt water is not usable in sustaining our planet.

- Mindy  

I chose this book for two reasons. 1. To open up my repertoire of graphic novels. 2. To discuss a topic that is at the forefront of Aboriginal news as the Prime Minister works to set things right. 

- Mindy