WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Six Seasons project is expanding its collection of Indigenous educational resources with the launch of its third historical picture book, māskīkīy miskanaw: The Medicine Way, alongside a free interactive app and a teacher’s guide designed for classroom use.
The new title, part of the Six Series developed through the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak project, will officially launch Sept. 1 at The University of Winnipeg. The initiative brings together Rocky Cree Knowledge Keepers and Elders, community researchers and academics to preserve and share the language, history and cultural knowledge of the asiniskaw īthiniwak communities of northern Manitoba.
New Book Explores Rocky Cree Knowledge and Traditional Medicines
māskīkīy miskanaw: The Medicine Way follows a Rocky Cree family during its annual journey to hunt, gather traditional medicines and learn from relatives in the heartland.
At the centre of the story is Mwakwa, a young person trying to discover his miskanaw, or path in life. While his cousin takes pride in leading his first moose hunt, Mwakwa realizes hunting is not his calling and begins considering how he can contribute to his community in another way.
Designed as a historical picture book for readers of all ages, the work explores Indigenous knowledge, science, resilience and relationships with the land.
Storyteller William Dumas authored the book, with illustrations by Rhian Brynjolsen. Cultural and language notes were developed in collaboration with Knowledge Keepers and Elders from asiniskaw īthiniwak, or Rocky Cree, communities in northern Manitoba.
Interactive App Extends Story Into Digital Learning
The project is also releasing a companion app that transforms the story into an interactive educational experience through full-colour illustrations, songs, soundscapes, games and cultural information.
The app includes voiced narration, maps showing the territory where the story takes place and pop-up information explaining Rocky Cree language, culture and history. Its games are intended to encourage users to further explore and reflect on Rocky Cree culture.
Following its September release, the app is expected to be available free through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
Teacher’s Guide Connects Story With Manitoba Curriculum
A teacher’s guide has also been developed to help educators incorporate The Medicine Way and its digital companion into classrooms.
The resource contains four thematic modules with suggested lessons, teaching strategies and reproducible classroom materials. The content connects with Manitoba middle-years curricula across Social Studies, Science, English Language Arts, Health and the Arts while incorporating Rocky Cree language and cultural knowledge.
Modules introduce the book and its historical background before examining medicines, hunting and gathering, and themes related to earth and sky. The guide will be available as a free download through the Six Seasons project and Portage & Main Press websites.
Six Seasons Project Builds on Decade of Collaboration
Based at the Centre for Research for Young People’s Texts and Cultures at The University of Winnipeg, Six Seasons is a community-based partnership focused on supporting efforts to reclaim Indigenous languages, histories and knowledge.
The project produces historical picture books that are subsequently developed into interactive apps and supported by educational guides. Organizers also see the initiative as contributing to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
The series began with the award-winning Pīsim Finds Her Miskanaw, inspired by the 1993 discovery at Nagami Bay, Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba, of the remains of a young Cree woman who had lived about 350 years earlier.
The second book, Amō’s Sapotawan, was published in 2022 and follows Amō, a Rocky Cree girl living in the 1600s, as she begins her journey toward becoming a pottery maker.
Winnipeg Launch Brings Community and Researchers Together
The third book will be launched Sept. 1 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Leatherdale Hall at The University of Winnipeg. Knowledge Keepers and Elders who contributed to the book and accompanying resources are expected to attend.
“This event marks an important milestone in the collaboration between community researchers and academic researchers who have worked together for the past ten years to support the ongoing, grassroots work of reclaiming the culture and language of the asiniskaw īthiniwak of northern Manitoba,” said Mavis Reimer, Project Director. “It’s been a long road, not without its challenges. But, over the many years of our walk together, we have learned much. Perhaps most importantly of all, we have learned that it is not only possible but also profoundly rewarding to work respectfully together across our differences to create the gift of story for all of our children who will inherit the world we build for them.”
With its combination of print, digital and classroom resources, the latest Six Seasons release extends the project’s effort to make Rocky Cree stories, language and knowledge accessible to younger generations, educators and readers across Canada.