Children's bookbrings elder and artist together to reconnect children with nature

A newbook by a Mi'kmaw elder aims to reconnect children withnature and introduce them to the concept of "two-eyed seeing."

Albert Marshall, 84, is Moose clan,Mi'kmaw, and livesinEskasonion Cape Breton Island.

He co-authoredWalking Together with Louise Zimanyi.

Walking Togetherexplainsthe idea of etuaptmumk(Mi'kmawfor "two-eyed seeing.") Marshall describes it as viewing theenvironment throughhuman eyes while having the ability to see things from another's perspective including plants or animals or other aspects ofnature.

Marshall saidhe wants to encourage childrento sustain themselves, no matter what they do, without comprising ecological integrity.

"Nature has rights, humans have responsibility," said Marshall.

"Every effort that they take, they will make sure that this would be in harmony with nature."

Marshall said children are visual learners and that Indigenouschildrenare more receptive to visual imagery than text, so he placed anemphasis on the illustrations.

Emily Kewageshig, an Anishinaabe artist from Saugeen First Nation in southern Ontario,was approached by Annick Press to illustrateWalking Together.

She had started selling her paintings as a student at Ontario College of Art and Design University in Torontoin 2018 to earn extra income.

Kewageshig said the publishertold herit's not typical for the author and artist to meet, but theywanted to ensure Marshall's vision for Walking Togetherwas achieved.

"I felt like I was talking to like my grandpa or something,"Kewageshig saidof her working relationship with Marshall.

"I felt like we were able to connect one-on-one even though we were virtual."

Inspiration from her son

Marshall wanted the illustrations to appeal to children, so Kewageshig's artwork is imbued with the perspective of her own toddler.

"I observed him when we would go out and see how he would react tothe natural environment and then I used that as my main inspiration forcreating the drawings," she said.

"I take inspiration from a lot of things, like the love of nature."

Kewageshig said she spent much of her youth outside, catching tadpoles in the creek and hunting with her dad. She found peace outdoors, unplugged from technology.

She hopesthis book will do the same for children who read it.

"It really emphasizes walking together in harmony, with each other and learning from the land," Kewageshig said.

"Not separating ourselves from the land, but viewing it as another one of us that we can learn from andgrow with."

She said she will beexcited tosee "how this book makes its way into the schools and how, you know, all my nieces and nephews and my son take this information.

"That'll be the best part for me."