Expanding on our current focus on Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature, I’d like to remind readers about Cree author Larry Loyie’s work. He has written the following children’s books that focus on the modern history of Aboriginal people and deal with native traditions, residential school, HIV awareness and prevention, the meaning of war and other challenging topics: Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), When the Spirits Dance (Theytus) and The Gathering Tree (Theytus). Study guides for all four books can be found on his website.
As Long as the Rivers Flow was selected as an honor book for the 2006 First Nation Communities Read Program, and this year, along with Goodbye Buffalo Bay, it was chosen for inclusion in a literacy project whose goal is to encourage learning and understanding of First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives in Ontario schools.
Together with his partner, writer and editor Constance Brissenden, in 1993 Larry created the Living Traditions Writers Group to encourage writing within First Nations communities. If you’re not yet familiar with his work, you’re in for a genuine treat.
You can read our 2007 interview with Larry here. His next book, The Moon Speaks Cree, will be published by Theytus in 2011.