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Nuka Minawaa Nissiwi Minisesaan: Nuka and the Three Islands

by Susan Johnston; Translated by Ethel Sault

24 pages; Saddle stitched; Ojibwe language/English; catalogue #06-2237; ISBN 1-4251-0479-7; US$13.04, C$15.00, EUR10.17, £6.74

This Ojibwe Legend, written in both languages, is about a Native girl whose sisters were jealous of her. Until one day Nanabijou caught them and they paid the ultimate price.

About the Book

Long ago there lived a girl in Thundering Bay named Nuka. The youngest child, Nuka could talk to the plants, animals and spirits. She would spend a lot of time with her animal friends. During one of her daily visits she heard a voice, giving her a message. Nuka did not return home that evening. Nuka's three sisters pretended to help look for her; even though they were hoping she was gone. At some point, Nuka was found walking toward the village, she told them about her visitor and that she would be leaving soon to get married. The three sisters went to where Nuka would be and started calling her names. Nannabijou did not like how the three sisters were treating their sister and turned them into stone. The sisters are still taking care to people in the waters of Thunder Bay.

About the Author

Author and illustrator, Susan Johnston lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario with her husband and they have two grown children. Susan spends her time volunteering and working for a small Aboriginal women's group. Much of her work has been focused on promoting cultural revitalization among urban Aboriginal women, also increasing their capacity to plan, develop and manage local community projects, improving their quality of life. This includes using traditional cultural teaching through providing workshops.

In 2005, she graduated from Lakehead University with Honours Bachelor of Arts, Indigenous Learning. Completing a thesis entitled "Native Stories and Storytelling, A Time For Telling" which is about the importance of storytelling and the writing of Native legends. The thesis also presents a creative project, a children story. This has inspired her to write Native children's books.

Nuka and the Three Islands is her first publication.

Excerpts