A01=David A. Robertson
A01=DAVID ALEXANDER ROBERTSON
A12=Julie Flett
Age Group_Uncategorized
Age Group_Uncategorized
Author_David A. Robertson
Author_DAVID ALEXANDER ROBERTSON
Author_Julie Flett
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beautiful illustrations
Canada
Category1=Kids
Category=YFB
Category=YFN
Category=YFS
Category=YFT
Category=YXF
COP=Canada
cree
Delivery_Delivery within 10-20 working days
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eq_childrens
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family
First nations
for kids
Governor general award
Indigenous children
Kindergarten grade 1 2
Language_English
Native american
orange shirt day
own voices
PA=Available
picture book
Price_€10 to €20
primary
PS=Active
Residential school
school library
softlaunch
trc
truth and reconciliation
winning
Product details
- ISBN 9781553796732
- Weight: 244g
- Dimensions: 190 x 209mm
- Publication Date: 12 Jan 2017
- Publisher: Portage & Main Press
- Publication City/Country: CA
- Product Form: Hardback
- Language: English
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Winner of the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award!
A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As the girl asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.
Also available in a bilingual Swampy Cree/English edition. Download the free teacher guide on the Portage & Main Press website.
David A. Robertson (he/him/his) is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, and recipient of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and the Writer's Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. Among many other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, in 2026 David was nominated for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. He has also received recognition for podcasting, public speaking, and social advocacy, including being honoured with a Doctor of Letters by the University of Manitoba in 2023 and a Doctor of Laws by the University of Lethbridge in 2025 for his outstanding contributions to the arts and society. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg.
Julie Flett is a Swampy Cree and Red River Métis author, illustrator and artist. She has received numerous awards for her picture books, including the Governor General’s Award for When We Were Alone and On The Trapline (written by David A. Robertson), the American Indian Library Association Award for Little You (written by Richard Van Camp) and a BolognaRagazzi Award special mention for We Sang You Home (also written by Richard Van Camp). She is the three-time recipient of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Award. Her picture book Birdsong was awarded the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award for 2020 and Wild Berries was chosen as Canada’s First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014-2015.
