Forever Our Home / Kâkikê Kîkinaw - by Tonya Simpson (Hardcover)

About the Book

This gentle picture-book lullaby, in both Plains Cree and English, is a celebration of the plants and animals of the Prairies and the Plains and a meditation on the sacred, ancestral connections between Indigenous children and their Traditional Territories.

Book Synopsis

★"This solemn and serene volume should be considered a first purchase. Essential for most collections, and with its wildlife-centric art, it's also a perfect read-aloud for Earth Day."--School Library Journal, starred review

A lullaby of reconciliation and reclamation, celebrating the ancestral relationship between Indigenous children and the land that is forever their home.

Under glowing morning sun and silvery winter moon, from speckled frogs croaking in spring to summer fields painted with fireweed, this meditative lullaby introduces little ones to the plants and animals of the Prairies and the Plains.

Written in both Plains Cree and English and featuring stunning artwork by celebrated artist Carla Joseph, Forever Our Home / kâkikê kîkinaw is a beautiful and gentle song about our spiritual connection to the land.

Review Quotes

"Simple yet profound...This picture book is a celebration of a Native people's journey and the interconnection we all have with the natural world that surrounds us."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)"

★"This solemn and serene volume should be considered a first purchase. Essential for most collections, and with its wildlife-centric art, it's also a perfect read-aloud for Earth Day."-- "School Library Journal, starred review"

"A tender hymn to the prairie in all seasons...Uplifting and joyous."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Extends its essence to all Indigenous children...Depicts expanses of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in all the seasons."-- "Booklist"

About the Author

nêhiyâwiw êkwa Scotiwiw Tonya Simpson. paskwâwiyinînâhk ohtaskânêsiw êkwa kî-nihtâwikiw mîna kî-ohpikiw tâwâyihk Alberta. kîsi-kiskinwahamâkosiw anthropology MA program, Alberta kihci-kiskinwahamâtowikamikohk, êkwa mîna êkwa atoskâtam ê-wîcihtâsot ta-nanâtawi-kiskêyihtamihk, mêkwâc ê-wâh-ohpikihât ocawâsimisa mîmîw sâkahikanihk, Westerose, Alberta. nîkân otâpasinahikêwasinahikan ôma kâkikê kîkinaw, nistam kâ-cistomâwasôstât okosisa.

nêhiyaw otâpasinahikêwiw Carla Joseph, Prince George, awasâpiskohk ê-ohcît kayâhtê. 2016 kâ-akimiht, kî-atoskêw Prince George Community Arts Council, êkota ê-mêkwâ-wîkit, êkwa mîna kî-atoskawêw nanâtohk kotaka ê-oyêyihtahk tâpasinahikêwina, tâpiskôc Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC, Northern Health êkwa mîna First Nations Health Authority. cîhkêyihtam Carla tânisi otâpasinahikêwin ê-cîhkêyihtamihikoyit ayisiyiniwa. êwako sîhkiskâkow ta-âhkami-âpacihtât kâ-kî-miyikowisit êkwa mîna cîhkêyihtam ta-ma-mâwinêhosot nanâtohk acoskêwinisa ê-miyo-otinahk, mihcêt êkoni kâh-wâpahcikâtêwa nanânis otihtâwinihk. Be a Good Ancestor ôma wiya kî-tâpasinaham. Chilliwack, British Columbia mêkwâc wîkiw.

Jean Okimāsis kî-nihtâwikiw môswacîhk (White Bear First Nations) êkwa mîna kî-nitawi-kiskinwahamâkosiw ohpimê kiskinwahamâkêwikamikohk Lebret, Saskatchewan. nîstanaw askiy kî-kiskinwahamâkêw kisiskâciwaniyiniw kihci-kiskinwahamâtowikamikohk (First Nations University of Canada kâ-isiyihkâtêk mêkwâc) êkwa mîna kî-wîcihtâsow ta-yahkitisahamihk iyiniw-pîkiskwêwina. kêkâc nêmitanaw askiy êkwa, omasinahikana mîna opîkiskwêmohcikêwina, nêhiyawêwin: paskwâwi-pîkiskwêwin, ay-âpacihcikâtêyiwa misiwê ôta pahkisimotâhk kâ-kanâtahk askîhk. kêyâpic atoskâtam ta-ohpinahk nêhiyawêwin mîna nêhiyawasinahikêwin; ê-nâh-nêhiyawastât êkwa ê-mâh-mînwasinahamâkêt masinahikana.