This book tells the story of real-life water protectors Autumn Peltier and her great-aunt Josephine Mandamin, two Indigenous Rights Activists who work tirelessly to protect their water. The author uses the real-life activism of a First Nations teen, Autumn Peltier, to show that this is a contemporary issue that young people have taken up and are pursuing justice and solutions. As the environmental crisis becomes more dire, young activists are raising their voices to bring awareness to policymakers on a global scale.
In their ranks is water activist Autumn Peltier, who became the youngest Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation in 2019 at the age of 14. Before her, that title was held by her great aunt Josephine Mandamin. Josephine walked over 15,000 miles in her lifetime to advocate for the importance of clean water. Autumn continues the struggle in the footsteps of her great-aunt, Josephine Mandamin, and those who came before.
This book is an excellent resource for a water unit, reconciliation, Indigenous Knowledge, empowering young people, and more. It is a wonderful book for students to read to understand the power of raising a voice for a cause. It is also an excellent addition to the genre of picture books that prompt investigation and discussion about critical social issues such as water pollution, destruction of water resources, and the exclusion of Indigenous people.
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