Tour with us: First Nations Communities Read

Our three-day First Nation Communities Read 2006 Author-Illustrator Tour is over. What a wonderful tour it was!

Our book, As Long as the Rivers Flow, was chosen as the honoured book for the First Nation Communities Read program, launched during Ontario’s First Nations Public Library Week. The program is considered a year-long celebration of the honoured book. In 2006, First Nations Public Library Week took place from February 13-February 18.

We visited three warm and welcoming Ontario First Nations communities. We were astonished at the tremendous turnout for us as authors along with our illustrator Heather D. Holmlund. Each community embraced the idea of First Nations Public Library Week and turned out in force.

Before we went on tour, we spent a day at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2006 giving two presentations. First Nations Consultant Patty Lawlor of the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) ably organized our schedule and escorted us around.

Our first OLA presentation was during a workshop on the First Nations library program that links smaller First Nations libraries with larger non-First Nations libraries. Our second presentation was an author and illustrator public reading at the conference. It was well attended and lively. This was followed by a book giveaway of As Long as the Rivers Flow, and book signings in the cafeteria area. Right across the signing area was the http://www.goodminds.com/ book booth. The next day we went back on our own steam and spent the day promoting our books (including our new book The Gathering Tree) and signing books with Jeff Burnham from www.goodminds.com. This was a fantastic opportunity for outreach. Among the benefits of the conference were meeting so many librarians from across Ontario, including the librarians we met later on our tour.

Our three-day community tour began with the following week with a 7:30 a.m. pickup in Mississauga on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. Patty Lawlor was in the driver’s seat of the comfortable rented van, which meant we could relax and plan the six presentations ahead of us. After picking us up, Patty drove to Pickering where she picked up Heather. Now we were all together, and excited and eager to meet with each community.

The theme of the 2006 First Nations Public Library Week and Aboriginal Storytelling Week is “Preserving Our Cultures Story by Story … Building Our Communities Book by Book.” Over the three days we experienced the pride and enthusiasm of writers and artists of all ages, all reinforcing this year’s theme.

By 10:30 a.m., we reached Alderville First Nations. Our presentation was in the large and attractive community centre. Chairs were already set out in a circle for the elementary school students. Librarian Eileen Simpson welcomed us, along with teachers and other community members. By 11 a.m., around 20 to 30 children joined us for the As Long As the Rivers Flow feature program. About 5 adults, including the Ojibway language instructor, joined us. She was encouraged when Larry talked about the importance of learning Ojibway. After Larry spoke, Constance read several sections from the book. Heather spoke about the joys and challenges of illustrating a children’s book using slides to show images from As Long as the Rivers Flow. Tips and tricks of writing and illustrating peppered the presentations. A lively question and answer session followed.

At lunchtime, we joined librarian Eileen Simpson at a local restaurant, The Tipi. We met several members of the community who dropped by our table to say hello and talk about writing. A community tour followed. By 2 p.m., we were in the Alderville Learning Centre Classroom. A feast of Black Rice Pudding, as well as fruit, coffee and other refreshments was laid out.

Members of the community began to arrive for the 2:30 p.m. writing and illustrating workshop. The workshop was well publicized with a poster and bookmark distributed in the community. More than a dozen people showed up for the two-hour workshop including an artist and a song writer. Discussion, a reading, writing exercises and a talk on illustrating were very well received. Larry explained that he is motivated by the 3 V’s and 1 T: Value, Vision, Voice, and Truth. Afterward, one attendee said that it was the best workshop ever. That made us feel fantastic. The question and answer session continued on a one-to-one basis while all enjoyed the tasty feast.

Around 4 p.m., we left for Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe where we stayed overnight at the Georgina Resort and Conference Centre. Patty Lawlor was driving, and it was almost dark when we arrived at the hotel. We walked in the snow to a local café for supper. After that, we were all exhausted and happy to go right to sleep.

The next morning, Wednesday, Feb. 15, we left the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for a short drive to Virginia Beach. Here we had breakfast in the cafe facing the frozen lake. Soon our escort arrived to lead us across Lake Simcoe to Georgina Island. This was thrilling but scary, too. Later we learned the ice was 18 inches thick, which didn’t seem that thick! The ice road was busy with trucks and cars using the frozen lake as a highway.

From the Georgina Island dock, we drove for about 10 minutes along the lakeside road. At the Chippewas of Georgina Island Public Library (located in the Georgina Island Community School), we were greeted by student Randy standing outside in the cold. “Welcome to our school,” Randy called out with a broad smile. His teacher later told us that the students were so excited about our visit that Randy went out to welcome us.

Librarian Karen Foster and Literacy Program Director Lynn Mooney welcomed us into the library. A group of about 15 children came in from their classroom down the hall. We told them that we were feeling shy about meeting them, and they relaxed, knowing we were all feeling shy. We introduced ourselves and the teacher pulled out two long sheets of paper with questions that the students had written for Larry after reading As Long as the Rivers Flow.

Each child in turn read a question which Larry answered, such as “When did you write your book?” and “What is residential school?” which related to the story of As Long as the Rivers Flow. Next, the children eagerly shared the stories they had written. Afterward, three boys brought out a hand drum in and sang for us. Then they invited other boys for a second song. Girls have their own songs but the girls did not have their rattles handy and also felt a little shy, we think, about singing. Seeing the strength, pride and enthusiasm for their culture was one of the most moving and memorable experiences of our 10 years of touring.

After the presentation ended at 12:30 p.m., we visited the community hall. Hundreds of historic and community photos are displayed on glass-enclosed bulletin boards. We were told that the reserve holds an annual Christmas party in the hall. Everyone is given a gift with their name on it, followed by a community feast. Wish we could attend one year!

Back at the library, we ate a delicious lunch of hot chicken soup, homemade bread, veggies, fruits, a mammoth chocolate cake and iced red raspberry drink. By 1:00 p.m., a dozen community members arrived for our writing and llustrating workshop in the library. Many were contributors of stories to a Georgina Island stories project. This proved to be a fascinating sharing workshop, during which we had a chance to talk with the editor and listen to the writers read their stories. An advance copy of the book was due to arrive that afternoon, but it didn’t come in time for us to see it. We hope to see a copy one day. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the array of memories of Georgina Island captured by their submissions for the book. The editor of a new local newsletter joined us. Her report was coming out the next day.

Larry, Constance and Heather followed up with presentations, and a good Q&A session. Then we all ate and enjoyed each other’s company, continuing to talk and answer questions. Once again, we came as strangers and left as friends.

After crossing back to the mainland to the Virginia Beach pullout around 4 p.m., we headed north for Orillia. As with the weather all week, it was a wintry drive with Patty Lawlor in the driver’s seat. All the arrangements for the tour were well made. Within about two hours, we were safely ensconced at the Days Inn for our visit to the Mnjikaning First Nation reserve. Patty drove us to dinner at a local restaurant. We talked about the amazing reception we had received during our first two days on tour. When we got back to the Days Inn, Larry, Constance and Heather had an editorial and illustration meeting about our new book When the Spirits Dance. We talked about possible illustrations and page breaks. When the Spirits Dance is the second in the “Lawrence Series” which includes As Long as the Rivers Flow.

Overnight, a storm came up and blew in snow and ice for our last day, Thursday, Feb. 16. While we were having our free continental breakfast at the hotel, we met a woman who asked us, “Are you going to Christian Island?” which is nearby. She was from Christian Island and had seen the poster for our visit over there. She said three people from Christian Island wanted to come to our workshop that day but the weather stood in their way. She was in Orillia taking a course and was disappointed that she couldn’t make it herself. It seemed as if everyone knew about our visit.

We arrived at the Mnjikaning Public Library a few blocks away in the community complex. Library Co-ordinator Barbara Lewis and her great staff greeted us. This was the second time we had met Barbara; the first being at the Ontario Library Association conference the week before in Toronto. Barbara did a great job of promoting our visit with posters everywhere.

Even though school buses were cancelled because of the weather, we had a crowd of more than 15 school children eager for our workshop. They came with their art teacher, Mr. Howard, from their classroom in the school part of the complex. For 90 minutes, we worked with the students, reading from As Long as the Rivers Flow followed by a writing exercise about a favorite person or thing. Illustrator Heather D. Holmlund picked up from their writing. She led the students through a two-part art exercise to illustrate what they wrote. It was fascinating to see the student work transformed from their first effort to a second “draft.” Real growth was evident in their work.

During the workshop, there was tremendous activity in the library. People kept pouring in, some from the media and others who were community members. A writer and photographer duo arrived from the local newspaper, as well as a Rogers Cable interviewer with her own camera. Both did interviews with Larry, Barbara, Patty and Heather.

The workshop ended at noon. By this time, quite a crowd had arrived, including the library’s retired founder. It was her dream from the time she was 14 to start a library on the reserve, so it was an honour to meet her. Lunch was brought in to the library. We ate and shared information with library staff and staff from the education and cultural departments.

From here we went on to the Seniors Centre. We met community elders including Donna, George, and others in their lunchroom. As we got started on our presentation with Heather, several staff members joined us. Larry spoke about writing about First Nations subjects, saying it was never too late to write. Constance did a lively reading of the grizzly bear scene from As Long as the Rivers Flow, then Heather talked about doing the illustrations for the book. The intergenerational audience and participation was very satisfying. A copy of the book was donated to the elders. We had tea and mingled until it was time to go.

At this point, the weather really turned on us. Freezing rain was falling and the windows of the van were frozen over with ice. After much scraping we drove back to the library for a gift presentation, then regretfully declined a community tour in order to head for home. By 3 p.m. we were on the road south. The drive was slow but Patty did an excellent job of reassuring us. We had plenty of time to talk about the wonderful tour before dropping Heather off in Pickering. As we left her place on the snowy country road, we saw two elegant deer in the woods. It was a good sign that we had accomplished all we hoped. By 6:45 p.m., we were back “home” in Mississauga.

To sum up, the highlights of touring a First Nations author and book, along with an illustrator, include:

. Connecting to the community in person, staying a full day, and being able to get know each community

. Encouraging people interested in writing and art from a First Nations perspective

. Meeting and sharing with people of all ages

. Sharing with children and appreciating their excitement about our visit

. The full day in each community meant we didn’t have to rush off right away after our presentations

. We got to know the community, its history and people

. We shared the things that are important to a community, their hospitality, enthusiasm, memories and feasts

. Larry’s pride in his culture was reflected in each community by their own pride in their cultures

. There was an obvious connection between Larry and the community members.

First Nations Public Library Week is a grassroots program launched in 2000 by Ontario’s First Nations public library community. In 2005, the program expanded to Saskatchewan as “Aboriginal Storytelling Week” and now also includes British Columbia. Through its featured titles, the First Nation Communities Read program encourages family literacy and intergenerational storytelling, and promotes and shares aboriginal voices and experiences.

We deeply appreciate the Southern Ontario Library Service, Ontario Library Association, Heritage Canada, the communities and libraries of Alderville, Georgina Island and Mnjikaning reserves, the children, community members, volunteers and librarians for their support and interest.