amõ’s õsapotawan = Amõ’s Sapotawan
amõ’s õsapotawan = Amõ’s Sapotawan
Her mother sat beside her. “Amo, from the time you were a little girl, you’ve always enjoyed making things with your hands. Kohcawi Nikik, your uncle, has offered to show you how to make nipisiwata, willow baskets – he makes such beautiful baskets. Kohkom Nocokisiw, your grandmother, has offered to show you how to make kwakwaywata, birchbark baskets, and containers and plates. Since you were a little girl you have also enjoyed making things with clay. You’ve already learned to make little askihkwak. Your auntie, kitosis Tawipisim, Sun Breaking Through the Clouds, has offered to begin your apprenticeship with her to make askihkwak and weave the bags for the askihkwak. Soon you will be entering your sapotawan to choose which skill you want to master.”
Amo crawled into her bed, and as she was falling asleep, she imagined herself someday mastering her mithikowisiwin, her gift. But what would her mithikowisiwin be? How would she know what was right for her?
William Dumas’ book, Amo’s Sapotawan, is the second book in his series, “The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Ithiniwak”, with the first being The Gift of the Little People. The series tells the stories of the Rocky Cree people of north-central Manitoba in the mid-1600’s. With this series, Dumas has taken on the role of teaching youth about the old ways of how the Rocky Cree people lived and survived.
Amo’s Sapotawan is written with rich descriptions of cultural observations, traditional elements and learning. The knowledge and understanding of nature are interwoven throughout the story intuitively, with an example being a passage that described the time of the molting moon as the period when waterfowl shed their feathers and grew new ones. The culture and traditions that are a part of Amo’s life are present in everything that she sees and hears, such as the beauty of her brother’s singing the evening song. Cree words are a part of the story and help to illuminate the storytelling atmosphere in Dumas’ writing.
Rhian Brynjolson’s illustrations are as rich as the storytelling. Her paintings are presented in the deep colours of the forest and in the brightness of the sunny skies looking over the water. The art complements the story in presenting the community in their daily activities and the beauty of nature as being both peaceful and pristine, echoing the message of respecting the land.
The combination of the storytelling and lovely illustrations gives readers a picture of what this world may have looked like. Readers see folks complete their daily tasks which include catching fish, harvesting berries, living with wildlife, surviving forest fires, and celebrating achievements. The village is alive with everyday tasks that support community.
Amo is a young girl preparing for Sapotawana, a rite of passage that is celebrated by Rocky Cree youth at around the age of fourteen. As Amo considers her way through the journey that will help her find her path in life, she will consider her skills and decide on how she will share these gifts within her community. Her gifts and how she uses them will also guide her in evolving to be the person that she is meant to be. In the introduction of the book, the author asks readers as they read about Amo to consider what their own life journeys will be and what their own gift and skills will be.
Also of importance is that, for further knowledge, in each of the page spreads the book also offers definitions and an overview of artifacts and cultural information that are featured in the story.
Tamara Opar is Youth Services Head Librarian, Children and Teen Services at the Millennium Branch of Winnipeg Public Library.