Every once in awhile you run across a picture book that informs readers in a beautifully, albeit sad manner. When We Were Alone by David Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett is one of those books.
The book is accessible to young readers and also speaks powerfully to adults. Featuring a story within a story, the book opens with a Nósisim (my grandchild), asking her Nókom (her grandmother) about things that are different about her. The girl notices that her grandmother wears colorful clothes “like she dresses in rainbows,” that she wears her hair in a long braid, speaks in Cree, and spends time with her family.
With every answer, Nókom tells a short story about how when she was young she was sent to a school far from home. For example, at the school, the girls had to wear clothes that “weren’t colorful at all. We all mixed together like storm clouds.” Nókom says, “They wanted us all to be like everybody else.” So now, her grandmother loves to wear colorful clothes.
When Nósisim asks why her grandmother wears her hair in a long braid, she explains that they cut all the girls hair and “Our strands of hair mixed together like blades of dead grass.”
“But sometimes when we were alone, we would pick the blades from the ground. We would braid them into the short hair they had given us, and we would have long hair again.”
With lovely rhythm and repetition, Nókom explains how whenever something was taken from them, she and her friends would come together “when they were alone” and find a way to remember their home, their language, and their people.
Educators, you will find an excellent classroom resource here for K-3rd grade. This would be a great book to use on Indigenous Peoples’ Day is October 14th.
David Robertson (Norway House Cree Nation) and Julie Flett (Cree-Metis) are significant contributors to Native Nations literature and artwork. Joyce Hostetter and I are giving away this book, courtesy of Portage & Main Press, through our Native Nations issue of Talking Story to be published on October 9. Leave a comment (alone with your email address if you are new to my blog) and I’ll enter your name. If you leave a comment through the newsletter, I’ll enter your name twice. Giveaway ends October 14.
This book is such a great introduction to residential schools. It's gentle portrayal of grandmother and granddaughter sharing grandmother's story of her experience is accessible for younger readers while older readers can infer the journey to reconciliation and witness grandmother's resilience that carries her to old age.
Thanks for the comment! Please make sure you leave your name and email address, Unknown!
Would love to see more PBs like this on Native Americans. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to read it!
Carol, I think this is a very important book. My Cherokee people almost lost their language here in the east because of schools where they could only speak English. Thankfully now our language is spoken and written throughout the Qualla area.
This sounds like a lovely book. Thanks for telling me about it. I will look for it, but I will pass on the giveaway.
Thanks Dorothy and Gail for your comments. From what I can tell, there are more and more books written to address these events. Gail, I didn't know you had Cherokee heritage. how interesting!
Hi Carol, I enjoyed reading about maintaining native languages and cultures. A great book for new conversations.
What a beautifully evocative and moving story, Carol. Please include my name in the #giveaway.
“Unknown” is Diana, an elementary school library technician and I have used this book with my classes this year. diana.richardson@ncdsb.com
Thank you for sharing about this book. Very special and very important.
This sounds like such a powerful and important book. I’m looking forward to reading it.
No unusual ethnicity but I have many stories I want to share with my granddaughter! Sounds like a very rewarding book to share.Thank you & Blessings!
thanks Connie, Becky, Melissa, Diane, and Clara. Diane–I'n glad you identified yourself and that you have been using the book!
I love lyrical picture books like this one that also feature a new culture for me to learn more about–it opens my mind and helps me be more compassionate.
Agreed, Danielle! You're in.
I didn't learn about the boarding schools until 5 years ago. It's so important this information be spread widely.
Agreed, Theresa. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Brilliant way to introduce children to and help them understand such a sad time in our history, Carol. I knew about the clothes and language but haircutting and weaving blades of grass knocks me for a loop. (Just commenting on your post. no need to enter in GA)
I know, the blades of grass got me too.
Thanks, Sheri, Cat, and Rosi for your comments.
Looks like a great addition to our library.
It is so important for us to remember and spread the stories and memories of Native American people and cultures. They are so woven into the culture of our country and are full of such wisdom. Thanks for sharing, Carol. No need to put me on the list unless you want me to post a review.
Thanks for your comment, Sarah. Glad it “took” !
Hello, Ya'at'eeh:I'm currently writing a novella in first person's voice. I'm searching for an agent and a publishing House who would be interested in YA novella regarding a memoir Boarding School experience and foster home.My name is Vee F. Browne-Yellowhair. See http://www.veebrowne-yellowhair.studiocontact: vfbrowne@hotmail.comI'm with SCBWI.org Northern Arizona, I'm in a Writers Boot Camp with the Carolina SCBWI.Re: When we Were Alone;Several of us went to both the Boarding School and Foster Homes lieu of Christians Homes. We cannot afford to be forgotten, education is a gem, it's a matter of where you sleep, eat, and a roof over thy head away from Indigenous home.Vee
Thanks, See, for commenting. I hope you find an agent and a publishing house. Let me know when you do! Carol cbaldwin6@me.com
This book is such a great introduction to residential schools. It's gentle portrayal of grandmother and granddaughter sharing grandmother's story of her experience is accessible for younger readers while older readers can infer the journey to reconciliation and witness grandmother's resilience that carries her to old age.
Thanks for the comment! Please make sure you leave your name and email address, Unknown!
Would love to see more PBs like this on Native Americans. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to read it!
Carol, I think this is a very important book. My Cherokee people almost lost their language here in the east because of schools where they could only speak English. Thankfully now our language is spoken and written throughout the Qualla area.
This sounds like a lovely book. Thanks for telling me about it. I will look for it, but I will pass on the giveaway.
Thanks Dorothy and Gail for your comments. From what I can tell, there are more and more books written to address these events. Gail, I didn't know you had Cherokee heritage. how interesting!
Hi Carol, I enjoyed reading about maintaining native languages and cultures. A great book for new conversations.
What a beautifully evocative and moving story, Carol. Please include my name in the #giveaway.
“Unknown” is Diana, an elementary school library technician and I have used this book with my classes this year. diana.richardson@ncdsb.com
Thank you for sharing about this book. Very special and very important.
This sounds like such a powerful and important book. I’m looking forward to reading it.
No unusual ethnicity but I have many stories I want to share with my granddaughter! Sounds like a very rewarding book to share.Thank you & Blessings!
thanks Connie, Becky, Melissa, Diane, and Clara. Diane–I'n glad you identified yourself and that you have been using the book!
I love lyrical picture books like this one that also feature a new culture for me to learn more about–it opens my mind and helps me be more compassionate.
Agreed, Danielle! You're in.
I didn't learn about the boarding schools until 5 years ago. It's so important this information be spread widely.
Agreed, Theresa. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Brilliant way to introduce children to and help them understand such a sad time in our history, Carol. I knew about the clothes and language but haircutting and weaving blades of grass knocks me for a loop. (Just commenting on your post. no need to enter in GA)
I know, the blades of grass got me too.
Thanks, Sheri, Cat, and Rosi for your comments.
Looks like a great addition to our library.
It is so important for us to remember and spread the stories and memories of Native American people and cultures. They are so woven into the culture of our country and are full of such wisdom. Thanks for sharing, Carol. No need to put me on the list unless you want me to post a review.
Thanks for your comment, Sarah. Glad it “took” !
Hello, Ya'at'eeh:I'm currently writing a novella in first person's voice. I'm searching for an agent and a publishing House who would be interested in YA novella regarding a memoir Boarding School experience and foster home.My name is Vee F. Browne-Yellowhair. See http://www.veebrowne-yellowhair.studiocontact: vfbrowne@hotmail.comI'm with SCBWI.org Northern Arizona, I'm in a Writers Boot Camp with the Carolina SCBWI.Re: When we Were Alone;Several of us went to both the Boarding School and Foster Homes lieu of Christians Homes. We cannot afford to be forgotten, education is a gem, it's a matter of where you sleep, eat, and a roof over thy head away from Indigenous home.Vee
Thanks, See, for commenting. I hope you find an agent and a publishing house. Let me know when you do! Carol cbaldwin6@me.com