Children's book on Governor General's Literary Award short list a win for Indigenous publishing, author says

Brittany Lubyhopes her children's book which has been shortlisted for a 2021Governor General's Literary Award will inspireyoung people to connect with their loved ones and the natural world around them.

Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh: This Is How I Know,written by Luby and illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley,tells the story of anAnishinaabe child and her grandmother, and how they explore the seasons and the natural world.

Luby is an associate professor at Ontario's University of Guelph who specializesin the history of Indigenous Peoples. In 2020, she was the recipient of the Governor General's History Award for Scholarly Research.

Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh: This Is How I Knowis on the short list for young people's illustrated books, one of seven categories for Governor General's Literary Awards recognizingthe best English-language andFrench-language books.

"I would also hope that readers feel inspired to connect with their plant and animal teachers," Luby said in an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo."I believe thatthe more moments we take to observe and connect with our environment, the more nurturedwe feel by it."

Lubyisthe many greats-granddaughter of Chief Kawitaskung, an Anishinaabe leader who signed the North-West Angle Treaty of 1873. According to Luby,her great-grandfather was sent to theCecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential school in Kenora, Ont., and that since then,paternal generations were mostly raised in English.

The book is written inEnglish and translated in Anishinaabemowin byAlvin Ted Corbiere and Alan Corbiere, whoare Anishinaabeand from M'Chigeeng First Nation.

Luby said making the book available in the two languages is an important part in healing.

"I transition betweena confident writer in English toa baby in Anishinaabemowin," Luby said.

"I really hope that by creating bilingual resources with the support of incredible linguists, like the Corbieres, that my children and my children's children will have a much easier time learning how to speak Anishinaabemowin, learning how to speak like members in our community speak."

Using lived experiences as inspiration

Pawis-Steckley is an Ojibway multidisciplinary artist from Ontariowhose family is from Wasauksing First Nation.

He said his own personal experiences with family and his grandmother formed the basis of his inspiration for the illustrations in the book. He hopes non-Indigenous children learn the importance of reciprocity relationships between youth and elders.

"I feel like a very important relationship or dynamic within a culture for instance is having elders take care of the youth, andthe youth taking care of the elders as well, or learning from the elders."

Pawis-Steckleysaid recognizing the book as a finalist for one of the Governor General Awardshelps Indigenous talent become more recognized on a national scale.

"I feel like it'sjust so important for Indigenous youth to see these sorts of books come out. For them to be able to see themselves withinthe books, to see them being represented ... just [to]have that recognized was important for Indigenous youth."

A1996 report bythe Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples found thatafter the 1913 death of Canadian poetPauline Johnson, who was of mixed Mohawk and European descent, almost six decades passed before another Indigenousauthor would be published in Canada.

Additionally, the report found, themajority of the books about Indigenous people marketed each year by major Canadian publishers werewritten by non-Indigenous authors, and Indigenouspublishers reported difficulty securing support from government agencies that support publishing.

Luby saidthe creation of the book was filled withAnishinaabetalent through copy editing, translating, illustrating and writing, and she hopes more room ismade in the industry for similar Indigenous-led publishing projects.

"I really feel that this creation is just helping to clear a wider trail for the next generation,"Lubysaid.

"I'd really like to see more Indigenous presence throughout the whole publishingindustry ...just to kind of see if we can expand even a little bit further beyond the book and kind of incorporate Indigenous voices throughout the entire lifecycle."

Winners to be announced Nov. 17

The prizes, administeredby theCanada Council for the Arts, are awarded in seven English-language categories:fiction,non-fiction,poetry,young people's literature text,young people's literature illustration,dramaandtranslation. Seven French-language awards arealsogiven outin the same categories.

All the books shortlisted in the category foryoung people's illustrated book are:

• Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh: This Is How I Know.
• On The Trapline.
• Out Into the Big Wide Lake.
• The Library Bus.
• The Wind and the Trees.

Finalists in all categories will be announced Nov.17.