The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak’s eagerly anticipated Amō’s Sapotawan, written by Rocky Cree storyteller William Dumas and illustrated by Rhian Brynjolson, launches next week. This is the second book in the series.
In celebration of Amō’s Sapotawan, UWinnipeg is hosting two book launches, a virtual one on Zoom on Tuesday, October 11 at 6:00 pm; and an in-person one at UWinnipeg on Wednesday, October 12 at 4:00 pm in Leatherdale Hall.
To register for the online book launch, please visit The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak Amō’s Sapotawan.
Amō’s Sapotawan tells the story of Amō, a Rocky Cree girl in the 1600s, who embarks on the journey of becoming a pottery maker. The book teaches readers about Rocky Cree history and culture in northern Manitoba.
The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak: Reclamation, Regeneration, Reconciliation is a community-based partnership project that aims to support the ongoing work of reclaiming Indigenous languages, histories, and knowledges among the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak (Rocky Cree).
Developing a series of historical picture books, which are made into picture book apps and accompanied by teachers’ guides, helps facilitate reclamation, regeneration, and reconciliation for all ages.
The first and award-winning book in the series, Pīsim Finds Her Miskanaw, was inspired by the remains of a young Cree woman who lived 350 years ago that were discovered at Nagami Bay, Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba in 1993. This book was remade as an interactive picture book app, and the teachers’ guide is available for free. Please visit Six Seasons.
The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak: Reclamation, Regeneration, Reconciliation is a partnership project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and housed at the Centre for Research in Young People’s Texts and Cultures at UWinnipeg.
Six Seasons brings together academic and community researchers, Rocky Cree knowledge keepers, and research assistants at all levels. In addition to SSHRC funding, the project is supported by Indigenous community groups, First Nation and provincial government groups, non-profit organizations, industry, and educational organizations.
Partners with the project include O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation; Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Centre; the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak Mamawiwin; the Historic Resources Branch of Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage; the Indigenous Affairs Secretariat of the Manitoba Department of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations; the Indigenous Inclusion Directorate of the Manitoba Department of Education and Training; Lakehead University; Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre; and Portage & Main Press.
