Ispík Kákí Péyakoyak/When We Were Alone (Bilingual Edition, Swampy Cree/English)
A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As she asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.
When We Were Alone won the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award in the Young People's Literature (Illustrated Books) category, and was nominated for the TD Canadian's Children's Literature Award. This edition includes the text in Swampy Cree syllabics and Roman orthography, as well as the original English.
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David A. Robertson (he, him, his) is an award-winning writer. His books include When We Were Alone (Governor General's Literary Award), Will I See? (Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award), Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story (listed In The Margins), and the YA trilogy The Reckoner (Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction, McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People). David educates as well as entertains through his writings about Indigenous Peoples in Canada, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg.
Julie Flett (she, her, hers) is an award-winning Cree-Métis author, illustrator, and artist of more than 15 books. She is known for illustrating such titles as Little You (Richard Van Camp) and My Heart Fills with Happiness (Monique Gray Smith). Her books have received many accolades, including Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet (L'alphabet di Michif), which was nominated for a Governor General's Award and Birdsong which was recently a finalist for a Governor General's Literary Award.
Marsha Blacksmith, BGS/B.Ed, is a member of Pimicikamak Cree Nation and has taught all grade levels from nursery to grade 12 incorporating her Language resources she creates and learning from Knowledge Keepers and Elders from communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. She is currently First Nations Language and Culture Facilitator for Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre.
Robertson handles a delicate task here admirably well: explaining residential schools, that shameful legacy, and making them understandable to small children...Spare, poetic, and moving, this Cree heritage story makes a powerful impression.
-- "Kirkus Reviews"Beautiful, painful, and shining with truth and dignity.--Richard Van Camp
Robertson's soft rhythmic text and Julie Flett's simple, yet expressive, illustrations combine to create a beautiful story of strength and resistance. The muted colours used in the pictures of residential school life remind readers of the suffering endured by Indigenous children. The contrast between these pages, and the vibrant greens, reds, and blues of the illustrations depicting residential school students temporarily escaping into nature, is heartbreakingly effective. Robertson never tries to disguise the underlying tragedy of Nókom's experience, but together he and Flett have crafted a book that is still suitable for younger readers, in spite of the intense subject matter.
When We Were Alone is an incredible work of art and is very highly recommended.
--Roseanne Gauthier "National Reading Campaign"Among CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens list
-- "Canadian Children's Book Centre"When We Were Alone is rare. It is exquisite and stunning, for the power conveyed by the words Robertson wrote, and for the illustrations that Flett created. I highly recommend it.--Debbie Reese "American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)"
