"Amik and her cousins head to the family
lodge to look for Nishiime and meet Amik's
parents, who are cutting down a poplar tree.
While the beavers visit, two white-tailed deer
come out of the forest to nibble on the poplar
leaves. "Miigwech" says one deer to the beavers.
It's easier for us to get to these leaves after you
cut down the trees.""
Amik's family is eager to welcome their beaver cousins from various Indigenous nations. Only Amik's sister, Nishiime, is hesitant. She has never met them, and wonders what they will be like when they finally arrive. Amik has much to show them during their visit.
The cousins come bearing gifts of thanks to Amik and her family for their hospitality. Each gift - dried muskeg tea, dried cranberries, a purple wampum shell, juicy maple twigs, wild strawberries, and a woven cedar headband - comes from their own part of the forest.
When Amik turns to introduce her sister, Nishiime has vanished. Amik and her visitors go in search of the little one. As they go, they seek help from the deer, the fish they see in the pond, a red fox, and a mother otter. No one has seen her, but each animal encountered offers thanks for the beaver's dam and how it helps them. As night falls, the time has come for the cousins to say their goodbyes. Only then does Nishiime come out of hiding, explaining that fear made her stay away.
"I watched you from the trees, and I could see that our cousins are
just like us, even though they live far away and have different families. "
After many questions, she asks if she might visit them at their homes some day. The answer is affirmative, and the cousins head for home.
Appealing artwork is filled with symbols of Anishinaabe culture, and shows warmth in the rich colors of nature. Observant listeners will note that Nishiime is never too far away. The Anishinaabe words used in the text are translated with a pronunciation guide, and the names given the beaver cousins are linked to each nation represented.
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