Middle and Secondary Literacy Circles

F IRS T N A T ION MIDDLE A N D
S ECON DA RY LIT ERA T U RE
CIRCLES
S c h o o l Div is io n # 6 2 ( S o o ke )
http://www.sd62.bc.ca/staff/district-resource-centre/
ORDER
N U MB ER
F N A LE
T IT LE AN D DES CRIP T ION
T HE A B S OLU T E LY T RU E D IA RY OF A P A RT - T IME
IN D IA N
LEV EL
S e c o n d a ry
6 c o pie s
Ale x ie te lls the s tor y of Junior , a budding c a r toonis t w ho
le a ve s s c hool on the Spoka ne India n Re s e r va tion to a tte nd a n
a ll- w hite high s c hool. T his he a r tbr e a king, funny ta le c ouple d
w ith dr a w ings is ba s e d on the a uthor 's ow n e x pe r ie nc e s a nd
c hr onic le s the c onte mpor a r y a dole s c e nc e of on Na tive
Ame r ic a n boy. Junior de a ls w ith is s ue s of r a c is m, a lc oholis m,
de a th, a nd pove r ty.
F N B RU
CHI
CHILD RE N OF T HE LON GHOU S E
In t e rm e d i a t e
Mi d d l e
Ele ve n- ye a r - old Ohkw a 'r i a nd his tw in s is te r mus t ma ke
pe a c e w ith a hos tile ga ng of olde r boys in the ir Moha w k
villa ge dur ing the la te 1 4 0 0 s .
F N B RU
S AC
S A CA JA WE A : T HE S T ORY OF B IRD WOMA N A N D
T HE LE WIS A N D CLA RK E XP E D IT ION
In t e rm e d i a t e
Mi d d l e
Sa c a ja w e a , a Shos honi India n inte r pr e te r , pe a c e ma ke r , a nd
guide , a nd Willia m Cla r k a lte r na te in de s c r ibing the ir
e x pe r ie nc e s on the Le w is a nd Cla r k Ex pe dition to the NW.
F N B RU
WIN
T HE WIN T E R P E OP LE
As the F r e nc h a nd India n Wa r r a ge s in Oc tobe r of 1 7 5 9 ,
Sa x s o, a four te e n- ye a r - old Abe na ki boy, pur s ue s the Englis h
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1
r a nge r s w ho ha ve a tta c ke d his villa ge a nd ta ke n his mothe r
a nd s is te r s hos ta ge .
F N CA M
S HI- S HI- E T KO
All Ag e s
In four da ys Shi- s hi- e tko w ill le a ve he r fa mily a nd a ll tha t s he
know s to a tte nd r e s ide ntia l s c hool. She s pe nds he r la s t da ys
tr e a s ur ing the be a uty of he r w or ld.
F N CA R
S WE E T GRA S S B A S KE T
In a lte r na ting poe tic pa s s a ge s , tw o Moha w k s is te r s de s c r ibe
the ir live s a t the Ca r lis le India n Indus tr ia l Sc hool, e s ta blis he d
in 1 8 7 9 to e duc a te Na tive Ame r ic a ns , a s the y tr ie d to
a s s imila te into w hite c ultur e .
F N CU L
A P RIL RA IN T RE E
T w o Mé tis gir ls w ho e x pe r ie nc e the tr ia ls a nd tr ibula tions tha t
a ffe c t Abor igina l pe ople s of Ca na da toda y. T he s is te r s , Apr il
a nd Che r yl, s how how gr ow ing up in s imila r e nvir onme nts c a n
s till le a d to live s le d in ve r y diffe r e nt w a ys . P ut into fos te r
home s w hile the y a r e young, the s tor y c onta ins the ta le of
the ir s or r ow s a nd joys w hile the y tr y to find the ir pla c e in the
w or ld, s tr uggling w ith w ho the y a r e ins ide . Is s ue s dis c us s e d
a r e r a pe , a lc oholis m, fos te r c a r e , r a c is m, dis illus ionme nt,
viole nc e , he a lth, a nd pr os titution.
F N E RD
GA M
T HE GA ME OF S ILE N CE
It is 1 8 5 0 , a nd the live s of the Ojibw e a r e inte r r upte d by a
s ur pr is e vis it fr om the c himookoma na g, or w hite pe ople .
F N E RD
LOV
LOV E ME D ICIN E
A multige ne r a tiona l s a ga of tw o e x te nde d fa milie s w ho live on
a nd a r ound a Chippe w a r e s e r va tion in Nor th Da kota .
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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S e c o n d a ry
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S e c o n d a ry
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S e c o n d a ry
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F N GE O
CHA RLIE 'S RA V E N
Whe n Cha r lie 's fr ie nd Singing Bir d, a T e ton Sioux , te lls him
tha t r a ve ns ha ve c ur ing pow e r s , Cha r lie s te a ls a ba by bir d
fr om its ne s t hoping it w ill c ur e his gr a ndfa the r , a nd
Gr a ndda d, a r e tir e d na tur a lis t, e nc our a ge s Cha r lie to r e c or d
his obs e r va tions of the bir d a nd s tudy the e ffe c t it ha s on
huma ns .
F N GU E
B E LLE OF B A T OCHE
Be lle mus t put a s ide he r s tr uggle to be c ome the c hur c h be ll
r inge r w he n thos e s he love s a r e thr e a te ne d dur ing the Ba ttle
of Ba toc he , pa r t of the Rie l Re be llion.
F N HA R
MOU S E WOMA N A N D T HE MIS CHIE F - MA KE RS
Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
6 c o pie s
In t e rm e d i a t e
4- 8
6 c o pie s
In t e rm e d i a t e
Mi d d l e
Or igina lly publis he d in 1 9 7 8 , the s e le ge nds of the Ha ida
pe ople of Br itis h Columbia fe a tur e the w is e a nd e nte r pr is ing
Mous e Woma n, a na r na uk (s upe r na tur a l huma n - a nima l
s ha pe - s hifte r ) w ho ta ke s the for m of both a mous e a nd a
gr a ndmothe r . Mous e Woma n's r ole w a s to ke e p or de r be tw e e n
othe r na r na uks a nd huma ns . Both a te a c he r a nd a nur tur e r ,
the e ve r w a tc hful Mous e Woma n ke e ps a pa r tic ula r ly c los e
e ye on young pe ople . Whe n the y a r e tr ic ke d into tr ouble
(ofte n by othe r na r na uks ), s he us e s ta c t a nd he r ow n br a nd of
tr ic ke r y to s e t things r ight.
F N HIG
KIS S OF T HE F U R QU E E N
Ope ns in 1 9 5 1 w ith Abr a ha m Okima s is 's vic tor y in "T he Wor ld
Cha mpions hip Dog De r by," a ma jor dogs le d r a c e . A kis s fr om
the w inne r of a loc a l be a uty pa ge a nt, a young w hite w oma n
w ith the title of F ur Que e n is pa r t of the pr ize . T his touc h of
w hite c ultur e inde libly ma r ks the live s of Abr a ha m's s ons ,
Je r e mia h a nd Ga br ie l, w ho gr ow into a c c la ime d a r tis ts
a tte mpting to w or k w ithin w hite , Eur ope a n tr a ditions w hile
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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r e ta ining the influe nc e of Na tive c ultur e . It follow s the boys
fr om the idyllic innoc e nc e of the ir Cr e e c hildhood to a for c e d
r e loc a tion in a n a bus ive r e s ide ntia l s c hool to young a r tis ts
a tte mpting to dis c ove r w he r e na tur a l ta le nts c a n ta ke the m.
F N IHI
T HE WHA LE RID E R
As he r be love d gr a ndfa the r , c hie f of the Ma or i tr ibe of
Wha nga r a , Ne w Ze a la nd, s tr uggle s to le a d in diffic ult time s
a nd to find a ma le s uc c e s s or , young Ka hu is de ve loping a
mys te r ious r e la tions hip w ith w ha le s , pa r tic ula r ly the a nc ie nt
bull w ha le w hos e le ge nda r y r ide r w a s the ir a nc e s tor .
F N LE R
S MILE R'S B ON E S
In 1 8 9 7 , fa me d e x plor e r Robe r t P e a r y took s ix Es kimos fr om
the ir home s to the Ame r ic a n Mus e um of Na tur a l His tor y in
Ne w Yor k City. Among the s ix w e r e fa the r a nd s on, Qis uk
(Smile r ) a nd Minik. Soon, four of the or igina l Es kimos w e r e
de a d - inc luding Smile r , w hos e bur ia l w a s not a ll it a ppe a r e d
to be . One of the s ur vivor s r e tur ne d to Gr e e nla nd, le a ving
Minik a s the only living P ola r Es kimo in Ne w Yor k for tw e lve
ye a r s . T his is Minik's s tor y.
F N LIP
WA R
WA RRIOR A N GE L
Na tive Ame r ic a n box e r of the Mos c onda ga Na tion, Sonny Be a r
mus t fight to r e ta in his he a vyw e ight c ha mpions hip title .
F N LIT
WILLOW A N D T WIG
Willow doe s n't know w ha t to do. He r mothe r ha s ta ke n off
a ga in a nd s he ha s to ta ke c a r e of he r diffic ult little br othe r ,
T w ig; le ft on the s tr e e ts of Va nc ouve r w ith now he r e to go s he
r e me mbe r s he r gr a ndmothe r . Afte r a c ouple of c a lls to
Onta r io, Willow a nd T w ig a r e on the ir w a y a c r os s the c ountr y.
T he r e the y dis c ove r a hous e hold ma de up of Gr a m, a n
e c c e ntr ic unc le , a hos tile a unt, a nd a motle y c r e w of a nima ls .
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Mi d d l e 7 - 8
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Mi d d l e
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6 – 12
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Mi d d l e
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Mi d d l e 7 - 8
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F N MA J
B LOOD RE D OCHRE
Na nc y a nd Da vid s e t out on a c a noe tr ip to Re d Oc hr e Is la nd,
a bur ia l pla c e of the Be othuk India ns of Ne w foundla nd. T he y
be c ome involve d in mor e tha t jus t a his tor y a s s ignme nt w he n
the me e t Da uooda s e t, one of the la s t of the Be othuk.
F N MA R
RA V
RA V E N S ON G
Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
6 c o pie s
S e c o n d a ry
In the 1 9 5 0 ’s on the P a c ific NW Coa s t in a n ur ba n Na tive
c ommunity de va s ta te d by a flu e pide mic Sta c e y, 1 7 a nd a t the
br ink of a dulthood, ba la nc e s he r fa mily's tr a ditiona l w a ys
a ga ins t w hite s oc ie ty's ne w va lue s ; he r futur e lie s in both.
F N MA R
S OJ
S OJOU RN E R'S T RU T H A N D OT HE R S T ORIE S
S e c o n d a ry
Wha t might be de s c r ibe d a s tr uths tha t c a n be le a r ne d fr om
the s ojour ne r / immigr a nt. T his e s s a y a r gue s tha t the
s ojour ne r / immigr a nt's c ontr ibutions to U.S. s oc ie ty a r e ofte n
ignor e d or dis c ounte d, w hic h ma y be due to a w illful a mne s ia
be c a us e pe ople do not w a nt to think a bout w ha t might be
ow e d to the s ojour ne r / immigr a nt w ith r e ga r d to he r e ntr y into
the Unite d Sta te s , he r s ta y, a nd he r de pa r tur e .
F N MA R
SUN
S U N D OGS
A 2 0 ye a r old Va nc ouve r s oc iology s tude nt la c ks c onfide nc e
in Abor igina l w a ys . F a mily uphe a va ls , r a c is m, a nd pa tr ia r c hy
c ome up thr oughout the nove l.
S e c o n d a ry
F N MA R
WIL
WILL'S GA RD E N
Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
A c oming of a ge s tor y of a young Sto:Ioh ma n, s e t in Sto:Ioh
te r r itor y on the s outh w e s t c oa s t of Ca na da .
F N MIK
T OU CHIN G S P IRIT B E A R
6 c o pie s
Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
Afte r his a nge r e r upts into viole nc e , Cole , in or de r to a void
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1
going to pr is on, a gr e e s to pa r tic ipa te in a s e nte nc ing
a lte r na tive ba s e d on the Na tive Ame r ic a n Cir c le Jus tic e , a nd
he is s e nt to a r e mote Ala s ka n is la nd w he r e a n e nc ounte r w ith
a huge Spir it Be a r c ha nge s his life .
F N MIK
GHO
GHOS T OF S P IRIT B E A R
Afte r a ye a r in e x ile on a n Ala s ka n is la nd a s punis hme nt for
s e ve r e ly be a ting a fe llow s tude nt, Cole Ma tthe w s r e tur ns to
s c hool in Minne a polis ha ving ma de pe a c e w ith hims e lf a nd his
vic tim- - but he finds tha t s ur viving the viole nc e a nd ha tr e d of
high s c hool is e ve n ha r de r tha n s ur viving in the w ilde r ne s s .
F N OLS D IF
A D IF F E RE N T GA ME
In this s e que l to Mur phy a nd Mous e tr a p, Mur phy a nd his thr e e
fr ie nds , Da nny, Je ff, a nd Albe r t, a r e ma king the tr a ns ition
fr om the tr iba l e le me nta r y s c hool to the c ommunity middle
s c hool. T he y a r e a ll tr ying out for the middle s c hool's s oc c e r
te a m, a nd the y'r e pr e tty c onfide nt tha t T he F or mida ble F our
w ill a ll ma ke the te a m. But onc e the tr youts be gin, Albe r t, the
tr iba l s c hool s upe r s ta r , pla ys like a s e c ond s tr inge r . Mur phy's
ne w fr ie nd, Molly, is de te r mine d to he lp the boys find out
w ha t's w r ong w ith Albe r t, but w he n the y dis c ove r the tr uth,
the y r e a lize tha t Albe r t is pla ying a w hole diffe r e nt ga me .
F N OLS GIR
T HE GIRL WIT H A B A B Y
Ja ne is a gir l w ith a ba by, tw o fe e t on the gr ound, a nd one
ha nd in the w a r m gr a s p of T e h a nd he r India n pa s t, a nd the
othe r holding fir mly to the futur e .
F N OLS JU S
JU S T A S K U S : A CON V E RS A T ION WIT H F IRS T
N A T ION S T E E N A GE MOMS
6 c o pie s
Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
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In t e rm e d i a t e
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S e c o n d a ry
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S e c o n d a ry
A c onve r s a tion w ith Coa s t Sa lis h te e n mothe r s tha t r e ve a ls
the ir thoughts on s e x , r e la tions hips , bir th c ontr ol, a bor tion,
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1
pr e gna nc y, por nogr a phy, s e x e duc a tion, s e lf- ima ge , life on
the r e s e r ve , a nd muc h mor e .
F N OLS N O
N O T IME T O S A Y GOOD B YE
A fic tiona l a c c ount of five c hildr e n s e nt to a bor igina l boa r ding
s c hool, r e s ide ntia l s c hool, ba s e d on the r e c olle c tions of a
numbe r of T s a r tlip F ir s t Na tions pe ople .
F N OLS
WHI
WHIT E GIRL
Until s he w a s four te e n, Jos ie w a s pr e tty or dina r y. T he n he r
Mom me e ts Ma r tin, "a r e a l ponyta il India n", a nd be for e long,
Jos ie finds he r s e lf living on a r e s e r ve outs ide of tow n, w ith a
ne w s te pfa the r , a ne w s te pbr othe r , a nd a ne w na me "Blondie ”.
F N OLS
YE L
YE LLOW LIN E
Whe r e I c ome fr om, kids a r e divide d into tw o gr oups . White
kids on one s ide , India ns , or F ir s t Na tions , on the othe r .
FN PAU
CA N YON S
F inding a s kull on a c a mping tr ip in the c a nyons outs ide El
P a s o, T e x a s , Br e nna n be c ome s involve d w ith the fa te of a
young Apa c he India n w ho live d in the la te 1 8 0 0 s .
F N RA Z HA I
HA ID A QU E S T
Six te e n ye a r old Chic a go bor n Luc y is pla c e d w ith a P olis h
gr a ndmothe r s he ha s ne ve r me t on the Suns hine Coa s t of
Br itis h Columbia . She e mba r ks on a que s t to find he r
biologic a l fa the r in the Que e n Cha r lotte Is la nds . He is T om
Ha le y, a w e ll know n Ha ida c a r ve r . Luc y be c ome s pr e gna nt in
Gr a de 1 2 a nd e nc ounte r s r e je c tion a nd r a c is m.
F N RA Z
S N OW A P P LE S
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
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Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
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Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
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Mi d d l e
S e c o n d a ry
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S e c o n d a ry
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S e c o n d a ry
Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1
SNO
A moving c hr onic le of She ila 's s ix te e nth ye a r a nd of how s he
c hoos e s be tw e e n he r boyfr ie nd a nd he r c a r e e r , he r mothe r
a nd he r s e lf - c hoic e s s he mus t ma ke if s he is to be c ome the
w oma n s he hope s to be .
F N ROB
T RA
T RA P LIN E S
Inc lude s four s hor t s tor ie s tha t c onc e r n a w or ld in w hic h fa s t
food, ba nge d- up c a r s a nd the gr unge of mode r n a dole s c e nc e
ba r e ly c a moufla ge the da r k e x tr e me s of s e x , fe a r a nd de s ir e ,
a nd the longing for love .
F N S LI
LIT T LE V OICE
Life ’s be e n tough for Ra y s inc e he r fa the r die d in a logging
a c c ide nt. T he n Ra y ge ts the c ha nc e to s pe nd the s umme r w ith
he r gr a ndma , a n e lde r a nd he a le r in a nor the r n Onta r io
c ommunity. He lping Gr a ndma by c a noe ing, c a mping, fis hing,
a nd be r r y pic king. Ra y be gins to le a r n a ne w w a y of life .
FN ST E
MY N A ME IS S E E P E E T ZA
Se e pe e tza , Ma r tha Stone , is living a nd s tudying a t a n India n
r e s ide ntia l s c hool. He r na me a nd e ve r ything e ls e a bout he r
life ha ve c ha nge d. Str ic t a nd unha ppy nuns , a r bitr a r y a nd
unfa ir r ule s a nd a c omple te de nia l of a ll tha t be ing a n India n
me a ns to he r , gove r n Ma r tha 's ne w w or ld. Ba s e d on he r ow n
e x pe r ie nc e s , a me mbe r of the inte r ior Sa lis h Na tion of Br itis h
Columbia give s a moving a c c ount of one of the mos t bla ta nt
e x pr e s s ions of r a c is m in the his tor y of Ca na da .
FN T AR
WHA LE S ON G
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1
Wha le Song is a n e motiona l c oming of a ge s tor y, s e t in the la t
1 9 7 0 's a nd be yond, a bout a young Ame r ic a n gir l w ho move s
to Va nc ouve r Is la nd. A tr a ge dy le a ve s Sa r a h Ric ha r ds on w ith
pa r tia l a mne s ia . Ca ptiva te d by Na tive India n le ge nds told by a
w is e Nootka gr a ndmothe r , Sa r a h be gins he r jour ne y for tr uth
hidde n a mongs t he r los t me mor ie s .
FN T AY
F E A RLE S S WA RRIORS
A c olle c tion of s hor t s tor ie s tha t c omme nt on the
mis unde r s ta ndings tha t c ha r a c te r ize s oc ia l inte r a c tions
be tw e e n a bor igina l a nd non- a bor igina l pe ople s . T he s tor ie s
de a l w ith r a c is m a nd s te r e otype s of a ll kinds , na tive
s te r e otype s of White c ultur e is fa ir ga me . Ea c h s tor y ta ke s
on a diffe r e nt c lic hé or 'c ommon- s e ns e unde r s ta nding’ of
inte r r a c ia l or inte r c ultur a l r e la tions with w it, humour , a nd
e motiona l e mpa thy. One s tor y - "T he Boy in the Ditc h"
illumina te s the tr a ge dy of pr e te e n ga s oline s niffing c ultur e of
Da vis Inle t.
F N WA G
KE E P E R'N ME
Ga r ne t Ra ve n w a s ta ke n fr om his home on a n Ojibw a y India n
r e s e r ve a nd pla c e in a s e r ie s of fos te r home s a t the a ge of
thr e e . He e s c a pe s in his mid- te e ns a nd finds hims e lf a dr ift on
the s tr e e ts of the c ity. By the a ge of 2 0 he is in ja il w he r e he
r e c e ive s a le tte r fr om his na tive fa mily. He r e tur ns to the
r e s e r ve follow ing his r e le a s e . Ga r ne t is initia te d into the w a ys
of the Ojibw a y - both a nc ie nt a nd mode r n.
F N WA G
D RE
D RE A M WHE E LS
Joe Willie Wolfc hild is on the ve r ge of be c oming the Wor ld
Cha mpion All Round Cow boy a t the Na tiona l F ina ls Rode o in
La s Ve ga s w he n a bull c r ipple s him. Cla ir e Ha r tle y a nd he r
s on Aide n, unde r go ha r d c ha nge s in the ir live s too. She is
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
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s e ve r e ly be a te n a nd he ge ts s e nt to pr is on. T he s tor y of how
the y c ome toge the r a nd he lp e a c h othe r to he a l w ith the he lp
of the Wolfc hild fa mily a nd the ir r e lia nc e on na tive tr a dition is
pow e r ful a nd e nlighte ning.
F N YOU
CIB OU
S e c o n d a ry
Se t in 1 7 th c e ntur y in Mi'kna 'ki, a te r r itor y of the Mi'kmiq of
Ma r itime Ca na da , w ith a young Mi'kma q w oma n a nd he r
r e la tions hip w ith Je s uit mis s iona r y Antoine Da nie l, a his tor ic a l
figur e w ho w a s s ta tione d in Ca pe Br e ton.
Fir s t Na tion Middle & Se c onda r y Lite r a tur e Cir c le s
- 10 -
6 c o pie s
Ja nua r y 2 0 1 1