Black Bear Red Fox (Colours in Cree)

When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of arts and crafts. Can the girl navigate the changing seasons and failing health of her new friend? Cree-Métis words (defined in a small glossary) add an intimate layer of identity to the child’s narration.

This picture book is a small glimpse, from A to Z, of some of the sights and sounds of the Michif language and its speakers. The language of the Métis, Michif is a combination of French and Cree with a trace of other regional languages. Once spoken by thousands of people across the prairies of Canada and the northern United States, Michif is now so little spoken that it might disappear within a generation. This alphabet book is part of a resurgence to celebrate and preserve the traditions of the Métis people.

See the world through the eyes of a child in evocative illustrations by a Cree-Métis artist who brings new meaning and joy to Cree singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte Marie’s lyrics. Indigenous traditions echo throughout the seasons and goings-on, but always return to those we care most about, because “still, this love goes on.”