We Feel Good Out Here (The Land Is Our Storybook)

We Feel Good Out Here (The Land Is Our Storybook)
by Julie-Ann André, Mindy Willett, Tessa Macintosh
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Grade 3–6—These titles focus on the lands and cultures of Canada's Northwest Territories and are replete with sharp and attractive full-color photographs. In We Feel Good, a local woman describes her life with her husband and two daughters. Julie-Ann is a Canadian Ranger who studies business management but, more importantly, she is a student of Gwich'in language and culture. She was sent to a residential school at age seven and has spent the last 10 years reestablishing her people's traditional practices and beliefs. A boxed area, "Our Words," gives a few words in English and in Gwichya Gwich'in. In Delta, an 11-year-old boy who lives in the Mackenzie Delta region with his family tells about life there. His father is a renewable resource officer and has taught him how to hunt, fish, trap, and drive a boat. Readers also learn about his language, schooling, and clothing as well as the important role that storytelling plays in the culture. These titles provide some useful information for reports and are interesting additions for general reading.—Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
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The voices and experiences of the aboriginal people of Canada’s Northwest Territories are rarely heard in books for youth. Titles in the new The Land Is Our Storybook series help to fill that void with slim, first-person accounts that introduce the diverse lands and peoples of the region. In this entry, André speaks about her Gwich’in culture, her daily life, and her childhood experiences, including her rage over what was lost when she was shipped off to a government boarding school: “I wasn’t allowed to speak my language or see my family.” In the majority of the book, she describes her life now as she moves between town, where she studies business management, and the wilderness, where she hones and shares her understanding of Gwich’in traditions with her children. An appended spread of facts provides more explanations and cultural context. Illustrated with maps and color photos, most featuring André and her family, and enhanced with a few folktales and a glossary, this is a valuable introduction to an endangered culture. Grades 4-6. --Gillian Engberg

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