The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Metis Story
by Leah Marie Dorion & Norman Fleury
Description:
Publisher's description (Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2009):
This charming story, richly steeped in Métis culture, focuses on the boyhood reminisces of Moushoom as her describes finding the "great giving tree" with his mother and father. The story emphasizes the Métis core values and beliefs including strength, kindness, courage, tolerance, honesty, respect, love, sharing, caring, balance, patience, and most of all, the important connection with the creator and Mother Earth.
Author and illustrator biography (https://www.leahdorion.ca/about.html):
Leah Marie Dorion is an interdisciplinary Metis artist raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. A teacher, painter, filmmaker and published writer, Leah views her Metis heritage as providing her with a unique bridge for knowledge between all people. Leah holds a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Master of Arts degree. She has numerous creative projects to her credit, including academic papers for the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples, books for children, gallery showings of her art works, and numerous video documentaries that showcase Metis culture and history. Leah’s paintings honour the spiritual strength of Aboriginal women and the sacred feminine. Leah believes that women play a key role in passing on vital knowledge for all of humanity which is deeply reflected in her artistic practice. She believes women are the first teachers to the next generation.
Resource format: Picturebook
Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 9
Keywords: Métis, culture, identity, core values, Michif language, kinship, Métis traditional story, Manitoba Maple, bannock, tea, cache, tobacco offering, emergency supply, message center, honesty, respect, kinda, generous, helpful, Red River Cart Wheel Teachings, courage, Mother Earth, Patience, Tolerance, Love, Kindness, Strength, Sharing, Balance, Three Fold Metis Decision Making Model
Year of publication: 2009
Publisher information: Gabriel Dumont Institute
Teaching and Learning Ideas
Our team collaborated with new teachers, alumni of the Werklund School of Education’s Bachelor of Education program, to create teaching and learning plans for texts in this website. With audiences ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Post-Secondary, lesson plans across this resource address a wide range of school subject areas, inclusive approaches, and Indigenous education topics, such as the revitalization of Indigenous languages. As this website was designed with Undergraduate Programs in Education instructors, as well as teachers in mind, connections to UPE courses have been flagged on each lesson plan. These lessons are intended as a starting place for educators, to help you envision ways in which you might bring Indigenous literatures, as well as ways of knowing, being, and doing, into your teaching contexts. Please adapt, use, and share these lessons in ways that are generative for your teaching practice. We offer our sincere thanks to the dozens of new teachers who gifted us with these creative ideas!
The Giving Tree Grades K-2 Lesson