Roogaroo Mickey

Publisher's description (Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2013): 
Telling stories has been a Métis tradition for generations. Papayrs or Mooshums and Mamayrs or Kookhums share stories with their grandchildren, parents share stories with their children, and friends share stories with one another! Some stories are for fun while other stories teach lessons to young ones, and some do both. The favoured stories of many are those about tricksters like Chi-Jean or about Roogaroos, the Métis werewolf. In Roogaroo Mickey, Mamayr tells Louis and Charlie a Roogaroo story from when she was a little girl. But Roogaroos aren’t real …, right? Both Wilfred Burton and Leah Marie Dorion are Métis.

Creator biographies (Strong Nations): 
Wilfred Burton is a Métis author originally from the area around Glaslyn, Saskatchewan. He has been a teacher since 1979. His first elementary teaching position was in La Loche, Saskatchewan. He has worked for many years with Regina Public Schools, GDI (SUNTEP) and is currently the Differentiated Consultant with Regina Public Schools. He is a graduate of the University of Regina, Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and the University of Victoria. Reading and jigging are his two loves. His first book Fiddle Dancer combines these two passions!

Leah Dorion, originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, is a Métis artist, author, curriculum developer, lecturer, and researcher. She has taught Métis History and Native Studies for the First Nations University of Canada, the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), and the University of Saskatchewan. For eight years, she was employed in GDI's Publishing Department: first as a Curriculum Developer and later as a Publishing Coordinator. She has authored or contributed to numerous books including The Snow Tunnel Sisters, Métis Legacy I and II, and Drops of Brandy. Currently, Leah is a visual artist, and an instructor at the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, Prince Albert.  

Norman Fleury was born and raised in St. Lazare, Manitoba. Previously director of Michif Languages for the Manitoba Métis Federation, he is a strong leader in the battle to preserve Michif/Cree languages. He has written numerous translations into Michif and provided a spoken record of Michif on the CDs that accompany books, including Stories of Our People/Lii zistwayr di la naasyoon di Michif: A Métis Graphic Novel Anthology, which seeks to create a bridge between the oral storytelling tradition and print with illustrated stories.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 6

Keywords: Michif-Cree, Métis tradition, lessons, Métis, trickster story, storytelling, bedtime, Mamayr, beast, trip, visit, brothers, boys, dog, shock, dual language, werewolf, roogaroo, Q&A

Year of publication: 2013

Publisher information: Gabriel Dumont Institute