(Episode 12) In this episode we cast a light on the forced removal of the Dakota and Winnebago people from Minnesota in the spring of 1863.
Live performance by Minnesota band “Lamon Cranston” at the 11th Annual KAXE Mississippi River Festival on Saturday, July 18th, 2015.
A new children’s book written by Brenda J Child, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder, and translated into Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain, has hit the shelves.
HEADLINES: Marie: This week on Minnesota Native News:
A new children’s book written by Brenda J Child, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder, and translated into Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain, has hit the shelves.
This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.
STORY 1 AND ONLY:
HOST (Marie): The book, BOWWOW POWWOW, is a celebration of storytelling, dreams, and Ojibwe language through the eyes of Windy Girl and her trusted dog, Itchy Boy.
Here’s Leah Lemm with the story.
SOUND:
Leah: Windy Girl and Itchy Boy knew that Uncle’s pickup truck was the best place for stories. Windy especially like to hear about the powwow. Sometimes Uncle remembered things from when he was a boy.
Child: Look at! What’s that?
Leah: That is a big piece of fry bread that he’s eating! (:20)
REPORTER: That was me reading BOWWOW POWWOW to my four-year-old son. He was enchanted by the colorful illustrations and the dog, Itchy Boy, who was barking at everything in sight.
The author, Brenda Child, is a professor of American Studies and American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota. Full disclosure, she is now also an Auntie of mine.
Brenda Child is the author of several books, but her recent book project has combined her knowledge of history and her personal history to reach people of all ages and backgrounds.
CHILD: When I was growing up, I was very close to my uncle who was the person who gave me my Indian name. And I noticed that my daughter has a similarly strong relationship with her uncle today. Windy Girl is probably somewhat of a hybrid between me and my daughter.
REPORTER: Windy Girl spends times with her dog Itchy Boy and her Uncle… while riding around in Uncle’s mint green pickup truck… while ice fishing and… while at the powwow.
Windy Girl has a dream about all the dancers at the powwow, big and small, old and young, and from many tribes.
CHILD: Native people and native children will see themselves, I hope as they read and look at the beautiful illustrations in BOWWOW POWWOW, but also for folks unfamiliar with powwow traditions, I think it also introduces children to the various styles of dancing and it introduces them to the powwow as well. So I think there's something in the book for everybody. (:28)
REPORTER: BOWWOW POWWOW includes a telling of the story in the Ojibwe language, translated by Lac La Croix First Nation member and first-speaker, Gordan Jourdain.
CHILD: We wanted this book to be accessible to all the parents out there working in Ojibwe language with their children, but also all the efforts in schools in the Great Lakes where people are wanting materials like this to use with young children.
REPORTER: The illustrations in Bowwow Powwow are particularly vibrant and nuanced with Ojibwe and Native culture. Award winning artist and Duluth resident Jonathan Thunder was approached by Brenda Child and by Minnesota Historical Society Press, the publisher of the book.
I caught up with Jonathan Thunder at the Macrostie Art Center in Grand Rapids, MN, where his work is currently on display. (You could cut this if short for time)
THUNDER: We sort of lined up because she's got the Red Lake background and she’s a world traveler herself. I think her writing style and my drawing style really synced up. A lot of my work has to do with dreams and spirituality, so the fact that Windy Girl has a dream… I love a dream sequences.
REPORTER: Both Brenda Child and Jonathon Thunder are citizens of Red Lake, which is also evident in the artwork… one can see Red Lake Nation flags and license plates throughout the book.
THUNDER: In order to feel confident signing onto this project, I had to do a lot of research of the powwow culture, I drew from a lot from memory stuff, the scenes where Windy Girl’s in the pickup with her uncle and riding on the Rez road and uh, getting chased by dogs… and just various little nuances that go into the outer ring powwow setting.
REPORTER: Particular items of note include illustrations of Anna Gibbs ice fishing and Amik Larry Smallwood as the powwow emcee, both of whom were Ojibwe language carriers and passed away in the last couple years.
More information about Jonathon Thunder and his work can be found at THUNDER FINE ART DOT COM.
The book launch for BOWWOW POWWOW takes place June 9th at Birchbark Books in Minneapolis.
SOUND:
Leah: That night Windy Girl understood the powwow is always in motion, part old and part new, glittering and plain, but still wonderful, almost like a dream.
Child: Almost like a dream… Bowwow Powwow.
For Minnesota Native News, I’m Leah Lemm.
