When We Had Sled Dogs: A Story from the Trapline = ācimowin ohci wanihikīskanāhk

In the “Introduction & Acknowledgments”, co-author Miriam Körner explains that the book is inspired by Ida Tremblay’s memories of growing up following the seasonal cycle of trapline life. In summertime, Ida’s dad worked as a fishing guide for a tourist camp in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and the family camped near their aunt’s and grandmother’s home at McKenzie End just outside of town. Over the summer, their trapline dogs stayed on atimoministikohk (Dog Island). Before freeze-up, the family made the five-to six-day canoe trip north to their trapline cabin on the Churchill River, where they would stay until the following spring.

In co-authoring, Körner didn’t just depend upon Tremblay’s recollectionsmemories, explaining that, “In 2018, I made the journey to her [Tremblay’s] trapline by dog team, imagining what life was like when Ida was young.”

For Ida, her “home” is the cabin in the woods of Northern Saskatchewan, the place to which she, her two siblings and her parents return each fall and where they will remain until the following spring. Far from stores, the family must literally carry in their basic food supplies which will be supplemented by what they can harvest and hunt. And the “they” who will do the harvesting and hunting definitely includes the children.

When we arrive there is no time to play. There’s wood to be cut, cranberries to be picked, rabbits to be snared, and the cabin roof needs fixing, too.

Because fall’s end and the arrival of snow means that beavers and other fur-bearing animals should have acquired their winter coats, Dad harnesses a team of dogs to his sled and heads off to his trapline to set traps. Upon his return, Mom then prepares the pelts for sale/trade. As Christmas approaches, “Dad loads his furs to trade at the store for flour, oats and sugar.” In addition to having traded for the necessities of life, Dad returns with Christmas gifts for the children: “My older sister gets a sewing kit, the little one loves her new doll. And me? That’s a secret.... Dad saves the best for last – Japanese oranges, frozen hard....” Spring sees the family’s annual life cycle coming to its conclusion as they retrace the canoe trip to their summer home.

The chronological story is very simply told, and the co-authors leave much for readers/listeners to consider, discuss and perhaps even research post-reading. For example, why would frozen oranges be the “best” gift? How long do you think it would have taken Dad to make the round trip to trade his furs? While the illustrations show Dad setting his traps adjacent to a beaver lodge, what other animals might he have trapped? What do the sled dogs eat over the summer when they are left on Dog Island?

Körner’s watercolour illustrations effectively capture the changing seasons as well as the landscapes of Northern Saskatchewan. Though children may be initially engaged by the main storyline, their revisiting the book will allow them to appreciate the many unspoken story details imbedded in the illustrations, such as the sled dog silently barking at a treed squirrel. And the illustrations may also raise questions. While children may recognize the squat wooden structures as being dog houses, they might wonder about the purpose of the tall, door-width building that is located some distance from the cabin.

As can be seen in the bolded text in the excerpt, the book includes many Woodland Cree words and phrases. As they appear in the story, they are immediately translated into English; however, for those who want to read the Cree text aloud, Körner provides a most helpful phonetic “Woodland Cree Pronunciation Guide” at the book’s conclusion.

Traplines are still part of contemporary life, but sled dogs have largely been replaced by snowmobiles and other such vehicles. Though When We Had Sled Dogs: A Story from the Trapline = ācimowin ohci wanihikīskanāhk is situated in a time past, its contents also address a legacy that merits being passed on to succeeding generations. Ida Tremblay died before the book was completed, but it was her hope “that when children read this book, they will be inspired to go out in the bush with Elders to learn about the traditional way of life, and even live it a little bit.”

When We Had Sled Dogs is a most worthwhile addition to school and public library collections.