From award-winning author, Marilyn Dumont, comes the story of Wryly, a young Métis man surviving on the streets of Edmonton while chasing his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Searching for love, hope and success while dealing with the loss of his beloved moccasins and the failing health of his aged mother.
Wryly’s easy to read story brings you inside a contemporary urban Aboriginal world you won’t soon forget.
Marilyn writes:
“I wanted Wryly, the main character in Stray Dog Moccasins, to be one of the bright, talented, yet dispossessed, young Aboriginal men that streamed daily through the library entrance where I was the Writer in Residence. What appealed to me about Wryly was that he was informally educated after spending so much time refuged in the library between bad jobs and couch surfing.
The roles of peacekeeper, warrior and veteran have always been extremely important for First Nation, Métis and Inuit people. Today, veterans are revered at every community powwow and Remembrance Day ceremony. The eagle staff and flags are carried in with honour by veterans and peacekeepers from the local community. We recognize that these soldiers overcame great challenges and made inspiring sacrifices to help this nation.
Ningwakwe Learning Press published a short book – “Honouring Our Peacekeepers: an Overview of Aboriginal Veterans and Peacekeepers.” It is our hope to share with you this truly remarkable aspect of our country’s history.
Excerpt from the book:
WW II
“A generation of young Native Canadians bravely flocked to the battlefields of Europe during the Great War. Approximately 300 of them never returned home alive. Nevertheless, when Canada declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939, the Native community once again quickly responded. Four years later, in May 1943, the government declared that its British subjects, all able Indian men of military age could be called up for training in-service in Canada or overseas. Therefore, in direct contrast to World War I, most natives were not exempt from conscription. By this time, however, many able bodied natives had already voluntarily joined the ranks for overseas duty.
I first started helping my dad make hand drums when I was a teenager. It was something he discovered a little later in life through his good friend Jake Sarazin, and he wanted to revive that ancient Anishinaabe art. Although we used a few modern tools and methods to make the drums, the traditional spirit was still very much there. When I learned, he explained the spiritual significance of every element of the drum. It was very rewarding and they are teachings I carry with me to this day.
Ningwakwe Learning Press develops and distributes literacy books and educational resources for use with First Nation, Métis and Inuit students. We now have around 75 titles in print for all reading levels. The topics of these books cover everything from traditional arts and crafts to residential schools and from teaching methodology to dreamcatchers.
Download Fall 2010 Catalogue as PDF
Our seasonal catalogue provides an excellent overview of recent releases. You can download it as a PDF.
In this fall 2010 issue, we chose the mighty sturgeon to welcome the new releases. The sturgeon is known as the king of fishes. A primitive creature, the sturgeon comes in a variety of sizes, but can reach twelve-foot lengths and up to 300 pounds. The Sturgeon Clan of the Anishinaabe is one of the teaching clans. The sturgeon represents depth and strength and can teach you about your determination, perseverance, depth, knowledge, generosity and strength.
The sturgeon image on the cover of the catalogue, “Numae” was created by artist, Adrian Nadjiwon, a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in Ontario. He can be contacted at dogsoldier@icrontic.com
As Ningwakwe Learning Press gears up to start a new batch of literacy materials, I start thinking of all the good things I want for these books and for the learners who will eventually be using them. A successful outcome depends a lot on how it all starts – the entire planning, research and writing phase.
As an education and literacy publisher, we have slightly more involvement in the development process than mainstream publishers. We hire consultants/researchers/writers to work for us.
As a Publishing Manager, here are the top 5 attributes and qualities I look for from a writer: Continue reading →
Ningwakwe Learning Press is pleased to announce the latest in their popular Sinew and Sage adult literacy workbooks. The Sinew and Sage series came about as an answer to the need for culturally appropriate, yet solid, reliable English-language education tools for adult literacy practitioners in the Native stream. Continue reading →
I had a wonderful experience researching this book. The interviews I conducted with Sherry Farrell Racette, Mariette Sutherland and Peter White were particularly revealing. The Elders all spoke about the important spiritual connection between personal expression and beadwork. More often than not, beadwork designs represent something of personal importance to the maker or wearer.
The histories of our Aboriginal nations may not always be intertwined because of geographical distances. However, almost every single Aboriginal nation shared historically in the practice of making beads from a variety of materials including wood, shells and seeds and used them for personal adornment. When glass seed beads were introduced in the early 1800’s, I can imagine that women would have been excited to be able to have such a variety of colours to use. The new materials were easily incorporated into existing artistic practices. For Aboriginal people in Canada, beads are a connection to the past. But for our ancestors, they would have been new and to quote Sherry Racette, “on the cutting edge of fashion.”
Online Learning with Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
September! It is always an exciting month around my household – back to school, three birthdays, and an anniversary, as well as the start up of extra-curricular activities! I am always torn about it. Although, the freedom of the summer (no lunches, no alarm clocks) is always welcomed in June, by September I’m longing for a bit of routine! September also means new teachers, new friends, new schools and new learning experiences. Just because we are adults, we shouldn’t lose the sight of the opportunities that September brings us for a fresh start. Continue reading →
If someone had asked me twenty years ago what I would be doing now, I would have responded, “Well, teaching, of course.” I never dreamed that I would be running my own business on the internet for the last dozen years. What happens, with people who are crafters or in the arts, is that we get this feeling that it would be great to share our product or service with the public. We want to share more often than just at shows, conferences or powwows. So, we start a business.
We quickly learn that running the store slows or stops the creativity because one is ‘looking after business.’ I was happily doing just that from my home when circumstances arose and I had to make a sudden physical move.
Writing ‘Seven Gifts for Cedar’ was a truly amazing experience for me. As a Métis woman who lives in Toronto and who travels and adventures far from home, it has become such precious and important work- this preserving of my own family story. I have three children, Jaycob, Wenzdae and Lydea to care for and ensuring that they have that solid foundation of teachings and culture remains a vital part of their wellbeing and the wellbeing of my family as a whole. ‘Seven Gifts for Cedar,’ the story of my mother and her Auntie, my own Great Auntie Flora who still lives up on the Georgian Bay at the age of 92, was such a great project for ensuring that these stories remain alive and well, and most importantly, accessible for the next generation.
Ningwakwe Learning Press is striving to make our reading material more user and classroom friendly. Slowly but surely, we are developing an educator/practitioner lesson plan and accompanying student activity booklet for each of our existing reading materials. We know that teachers really appreciate additional material that make books easier to use in the classroom. Continue reading →
Literacy practitioners, both within the Aboriginal field and mainstream areas, find Ningwakwe Learning Press’ reading materials culturally relevant, unique, interesting and informative. However, sometimes they do not always know how to integrate these resources into a learning environment. Continue reading →
“Bobby’s Story” is about a First Nation youth struggling with his friend’s suicide.
It includes warnings signs and what to do if you know someone is suicidal. Dr. Pinette blends evidence-based Western medicine with traditional indigenous teachings on health into a captivating and educational story.
Many people are uncomfortable discussing personal health issues especially one that can be as deeply affecting as cancer. As part of Ningwakwe’s ‘Healthy Life Series’, it is the hope of Ningwakwe Learning Press that this book, Understanding Cancer, and its supplementary material will begin a discussion that will lead to a greater understanding and awareness to this difficult subject.
I’ve had the privilege of being involved in Aboriginal adult literacy/basic education since 1985. Over the past quarter century, I’ve seen many changes in the way we work with Aboriginal adults. Continue reading →
This is a book for families to take turns reading aloud which includes passages for both adults and children to enjoy. Ningwakwe Learning Press hopes that students and their families will be able to spend time together reading and enjoying “The Truth About Nibbles.”
Ningwakwe Learning Press is an Aboriginal operated publishing press. Our mandate is to publish books by Aboriginal (First Nation, Métis & Inuit) authors. The Press prides itself on providing Aboriginal authenticity in all aspects of our publishing process – from staff to authors, editors and artists, whenever possible. Continue reading →
In the publishing industry, a book is judged by its cover – and the amount of typos the forensic reader can find. As anyone in the media industry can attest to, this will always be a source of agony and embarrassment at times. Authors strive for perfection in their submitted work. Yes, I think anyone who makes a living from writing should take all efforts to ensure their submissions are as error-free as possible. Continue reading →
The theme of this anthology is as the name suggests, Journeys of the Spirit. Learners from across Canada share their fears, dreams, and relationships in this third collection of learner’s voices. Ningwakwe Learning Press is proud to publish writings such as these because they highlight the resiliency and bravery of learners in literacy programs.
They are both teachers who specialize in helping students become speakers of Anishinaabemowin. Their goal is for readers to understand each and every word and begin to use this beautifully complex language.
It is set in the 1940’s on Manitoulin Island, ‘the place of the spirits.’ This story celebrates veterans who gave their lives to end a World War, and the survivors who built a hockey arena to help young people understand the importance of memories and community.
Listen here to the story found in the book. It is in the Ojibway language, Anishinaabemowin, and narrated by one of the authors – Margaret Noori.
From award-winning author, Marilyn Dumont, comes the story of Wryly, a young Métis man surviving on the streets of Edmonton while chasing his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Searching for love, hope and success while dealing with the loss of his beloved moccasins and the failing health of his aged mother.
