Niwechihaw: I Help

Publisher's description (House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books, 2018): 
This simple story in Cree and English explores a young child’s relationship to his grandmother, or nôkhom, as they go for a walk in the woods to pick rosehips. The young boy follows his grandmother, walking, listening, picking, praying and eating, just as she does. In doing so, he absorbs the rich cultural traditions and values of his Cree heritage.

Caitlin Dale Nicholson’s acrylic-on-canvas illustrations portray the close relationship between the boy and his grandmother and the natural beauty of the bush. Her text has been translated into Cree by Leona Morin-Neilson, who was also the inspiration for niwîcihâw / I Help.

Formerly titled Niwechihaw / I Help, this revised paperback edition features updated text, including Cree syllabics in addition to standard roman orthography and English.

Author/Creator's Biography (House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books, 2018):
Caitlin Dale Nicholson is a graduate of the First Nations Studies program at the University of Northern British Columbia. Her family and Leona Morin-Neilson’s family have been close friends for many years, and Caitlin continues to learn about traditional plant medicines from Leona. Caitlin has written and illustrated the first two books in the Nôhkom series — niwîcihâw / I Help and nipêhon / I Wait. She is currently living with her family in Tahltan Territory in northern British Columbia.

Leona Morin-Neilson teaches Cree at the “Power of Friendship” Aboriginial Headstart program in Prince George, British Columbia, and at the University of Northern British Columbia. She also teaches people in her community about traditional plants and how they can be used for medicinal purposes.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 1

Keywords: nôkhom, grandparents, cultural traditions, Cree heritage, dual language, Cree language, kinship, land based learning, Plains Cree, grandmother, listening, elder, knowledge, culture, knowledge keeper, kinship, family, values, tradition, inspiration, reflection, role model, help, children, rosehip, tea, recipe, plants, language revitalization, translations

Year of publication: 2008

Publisher information: Groundwood Books