'Owl of us Matter': Sask. author’s new book teaches children about Indigenous history
A University of Regina student has created a children’s book as a resource to teach kids about Indigenous history.
Natasha Halliwell wrote “Owl of Us Matter” as part of a school project, opting to replace humans with owls in the historical retelling.
“I do not like having labels like settlers and savages so I wanted to get rid of that,” said Halliwell. “I think that a way to do that was to get rid of the humans and bring in the owls.”
The book teaches children about the history of Treaty 7.
“There's a pretty dark history but it doesn't mean we all have to get angry about it,” said Halliwell. “We need to be able to learn to forgive and accept things in order to teach our young ones and get somewhere else in life.”
Halliwell admitted the process of going through the history was tough.
”When you're Indigenous and you hear about your ancestors it kind of gets you upset but then at the same time it leaves you hopeless and defeated because where are we now? What do you see out there?” said Halliwell.
Providing an educational tool for kids is important to Halliwell, as she said resources like her book were not widely available when she was a child.
“I think having something like this available, it gives you identity in yourself, and it gives you feelings of love and it doesn't reopen that scar,” said Halliwell.
Halliwell’s next goal is to get the book widely published, which can be a difficult process for some Indigenous authors.
Solomon Ratt, an associate professor at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC), said large publishing companies often shy away from Indigenous writers.
“They're not interested in publishing First Nations authors because only a few people want to buy the books, there is no potential of making money out of this.” said Ratt.
Ratt added Indigenous authors should not shy away from trying to get published, due to the lack of publishers.
“Our stories tell our history, our experiences tell our history and this is why we have to make these stories available to our children or grandchildren,” said Ratt
“To be able to tell our stories and see where we come from because we are putting our stories out from our perspective, it really rather than colonial history perspective.”
Dr. Angelina Weenie, another associate professor at the FNUC, said Indigenous authors are a necessity, to help represent the community.
“For the longest time, other people wrote about us, wrote our stories and it's time for us to share perspectives or knowledge,” said Weenie.
The more Indigenous authors in the community, the more we can find these books in school systems.
Ratt hopes with increased Indigenous representation among authors, more books with an Indigenous perspective will be found in schools.
“It is so essential to have these in the public school systems because we have to create readers of our children,” said Ratt. “We have to be able to have these stories available to parents so they read them to their children.”
Halliwell is hoping her book teaches children about Indigenous history and forgiveness.
“Forgiveness for the ancestors, for all the newcomers, and then new ones,” said Halliwell.
Ratt said he plans to translate Halliwell’s book to Cree in the near future, to provide more books in Indigenous languages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.