The 2010 Willow Awards
Shining Willow Nominee
Giving Tree, The
This vibrantly illustrated book focuses on the boyhood reminiscences of Moushoom as he describes finding the "Great Giving Tree" with his mother and father. This beautiful retelling of a traditional Métis story emphasizes the connection with the Creator and Mother Earth.
About the Author
Leah Dorion, originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, is a Métis artist, author, curriculum developer, lecturer, and researcher. She has taught Métis History and Native Studies for the First Nations University of Canada, the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), and the University of Saskatchewan. For eight years, she was employed in GDI's Publishing Department: first as a Curriculum Developer and later as a Publishing Coordinator. She has authored or contributed to numerous books including The Snow Tunnel Sisters, Métis Legacy I and II, and Drops of Brandy. Currently, Leah is a visual artist, and an instructor at the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, Prince Albert.
Teacher Resources
Activity #1:
The Giving Tree has a stash of items in a hole in the trunk that would be useful for others who are traveling and may have forgotten something. In your classroom or home, find a basket, then place items in it that would be useful for others to share. For example: the basket might be for the lunch room where you could put in packets of salt, packages of crackers, little containers of jam or cheese whiz, plastic spoon, etc. If you take something from the basket, it would be expected that you place something else in there.
Activity #2
Using the Métis values at the back of the book, create a circular spinner with all the values displayed. Each day spin the spinner and whatever the spinner lands on is is the value that is practiced throughout the day. For example: If the spinner lands on the value of respect, tell about times when you practiced this value or showed this value. If you do this every day or week, you eventually cover all the values taught in the book.
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