kā-āciwīkicik/The Move

Doris George and Don K. Philpot, illustrated by Alyssa Koski

Image | kā-āciwīkicik/The Move

(Heritage House)

A magical children's picture book, written in Cree and English, depicting the transformation of a barren landscape into a rich natural world where an elderly couple can spend their remaining days.

Rooted in the historical displacement and relocation of members of the Chemawawin First Nation from their ancestral homeland, The Move is a bilingual story of two Cree Elders adjusting to life in their new environment. The story presents two contrasting landscapes of the old community — the homeland of the Chemawawin People — and the new community of Easterville, which at first appears barren and lifeless.
Gradually, the couple begins to incorporate their old customs and traditions into their current surroundings.
Family members begin to visit, and eventually nature begins to bloom all around them. Through traditional Cree storytelling techniques and vivid imagery, the new landscape springs to life and becomes a true community, filled with life and happiness. (From Heritage House)
kā-āciwīkicik/The Move is a finalist for the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustrated books. The winner will be announced on Nov. 16, 2022.
Doris George is a Cree author and educator. She is the principal of Chemawawin Schools in Easterville, Man., where she also taught Cree language for four years. She holds a BA and BEd from University College of the North and a Community Linguist Certificate (CLC) from the University of Alberta.
Don K. Philpot is a writer and educator born and raised in Edmonton and Winnipeg, and spent the first part of his adult life in two Cree communities in northern Manitoba. Philpot specializes in Cree language structures and use, language and literacy education, and children's literature.
Alyssa Koski is an Alberta artist, illustrator and animator.