Description
Long Powwow Nights, Iskewsis, Dear Mother is a moving picture book co-written by David Bouchard and Pam Aleekuk. The bilingual 32-page book has text in English and Mi'kmaq and an audio CD accompanies the book. Bouchard's rhythmic poems are inspired by the child's fond memories of powwows attended with his mother. Raised in a single parent family, the narrator shows his love for the powwow event, the dancers, the long car rides to the powwow, and the intricate regalia. Toward the end of the narrative the reader learns about the mother's changing health and her death. Nevertheless the narrator remembers his mother dancing at the powwow with loving reminiscences and acknowledges the gentle woman who was teacher and caregiver. The poem includes repetitive stanzas that acknowledge the dancers and compares them to dark Ravens or Tricksters. The poem recalls the dignity and respect the dancers elicit as they danced their magic during long powwow nights. The mother is viewed as a sweet butterfly in the manner of all women fancy dancers. The text is written in English with Mi'kmaq translations by Patsy Paul-Martin. The images of the powwow dancers were created by artist Leonard Paul who captures the dignity and pride of each dancer. The book is accompanied by an audio CD that includes the narration in English and Mi'kmaq as well the song, Darling Don't Cry written by Edmund Bull and Buffy Sainte-Marie, and performed by Red Bull and Buffy Sainte-Marie. Highly Recommended.