Nature's colours and Cree language set the atmosphere for this powerful story about a young boy and his “Moshom” travelling on a Northern journey of memories and discovery. At each stop along the route to the mysterious “trapline” his grandfather describes how he spent his childhood foraging, playing and living in the natural world. Reaching their destination where Moshom helped his family harvest muskrats, the young child learns that living in harmony with the land holds special meaning for his grandfather and their family. As the pair head back to the city, the boy now understands that learning comes in many different forms and knows that he and his grandfather will be always connected by this extraordinary trip “home”. This special story teaches students about Cree oral and cultural traditions, while imparting a sense of wonder and respect for all that Mother Earth provides her people.
This story complements Grade K-3 Social Studies and Indigenous Studies lessons exploring the oral traditions and way of life of Canada's First Nations people. Students also learn about traditional ecological knowledge and cultural respect for the natural world. The book includes a glossary of the Swampy Cree words used in the story, which strengthens pupils vocabulary skills while developing cultural awareness.
The story would make an excellent introduction to an Earth Day activity in which students go on a "sensory hike" with an Elder from a local First Nations community and use the experience to create posters about "Mother Earth". The posters could be used as the centrepiece of a school educational display that informs students, teachers and community members about ways of "living lightly" when they are interacting with nature.
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