Classroom Essentials: Winter stories

For many Native American tribes, winter is a season of storytelling and traditional stories are reserved for these colder months. Winter provides a time for rest and reflection when elders can share oral narratives with younger generations. For the Ojibwe people, traditionally snow must be on the ground to begin telling sacred stories. In this episode, Allison and Odia discuss the significance of winter stories and share some of their favorite winter books. Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. WINTER BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS 1. “Ajjiit: Dark Dreams of the Ancient Arctic” by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley 2. “Bagone Giizhig: The Hole in the Sky” and “Inhabiting the Earth/Ajijaak” by Leonard Moose and Mary Moose 3. “Burning Cold: An Inuit and Dene Comics Collection” by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley 4. “Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations” by Richard Wagamese 5. “Hockey in the Northwoods” by Brita Brookes 6. “How I Survived: Four Nights on the Ice” by Serapio Ittusardjuat 7. “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice 8. “Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology” edited by Shane Hawk Theodore C. Van Alst 9. “Napi” series by Jason EagleSpeaker 10. “Neneboozhoo and the Elk's Head (The Adventures of Nenaboozhoo)” by Dr. Giniwgiizhig and Niizhobines 11. “Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year” by Linda LeGarde Grover 12. “One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet” by Richard Wagamese 13. “Raven, Rabbit, Deer” by Sue Farrell Holler 14. “Taos Winter” by Elizabeth Hairston-McBurrows 15. “The Electric Indian” by Twin Cities PBS 16. “The Little People and the Water of Life” by Ronda J. Snow 17. “The Shadows that Rush Past: A Collection of Frightening Inuit Folktales” by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley 18. “When the Trees Crackle with Cold: A Cree Seasons Activity Book” by Bernice Johnson-Laxdal and Miriam Körner 19. “Why Bear Has a Short Tail” by Cass Hollander 20. “Winter’s Gifts” by Kaitlin B. Curtice