Picture Books with Native Languages

"Based in Duck Bay, Manitoba, in the 1940s, an Elder shares his experience of packing up to go out to collect blueberries, a traditional gathering that took place every summer. He describes the journey and landscape with humor and such vivid imagery that readers will see themselves there with him, boarding the trail of wagons from surrounding communities and heading east toward the blueberry patch. The Elder's stories offer a journey back in time...

Since before he could walk, little Clarence has accompanied his grandma to a certain clearing to pick "wild berries / pikaci-m­­inísa." Once grandma has checked for bears ("maskwak"), the two set to picking-and eating-with breaks to watch an ant ("­eník") and other wildlife. When their buckets are full, they say "thank you / nanaskomowak" and leave a handful of berries for the birds.

Nimoshom loved to drive the school bus. Every day, on the way to and from school, he had something to say. Sometimes, he told the kids silly stories. Sometimes, he taught the kids a new word in Cree. Nimoshom and His Bus introduces basic Cree words. A glossary is included in the back of the book. -- from Amazon.

On an outing in Nicola Valley, British Columbia, a Native American family forages for herbs and mushrooms while the grandmother passes down her language and knowledge to her young grandchildren. Includes glossary.

The experiences of a young child as she and her grandmother go for a walk along the shore to gather clams for the family's supper. During the experience Alego finds many new and interesting animals and creatures that live the tide pools along the shore and grandmother teaches her the names of the creatures.

Ukpik loves living in her camp in the North with her family. When a captain from the south arrives to trade with Ukpik's father, Ukpik is excited to learn how to use the forks, knives, and spoons he brings with him. At first, Ukpik enjoys teaching the other children how to use thses new tools. But soon, she starts to wonder if they'll need to use the new tools all the time, and if that means that everything in camp will change.

"When Uncle and Windy Girl attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars. Uncle's stories inspire visions in her head: a bowwow powwow, where all the dancers are dogs. In these magical scenes, Windy sees veterans in a Grand Entry, and a visiting drum group, and traditional dancers, grass dancers, and jingle-dress...

"In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings. We accompany them through warm summer days full of wildflowers, bees and blueberries, then fall, when bears feast before hibernation and forest mushrooms are ripe for harvest. Winter mornings begin in darkness as deer, mice and other animals search for food, while...