"Listen. The Old Ones speak to all of us.
They tell us that we are in this together
and that we always were.
Listen and you will hear them."
As the story opens, a teacher is passing out an assignment to a diverse group of students. The questions assigned asks: "What makes you proud to be a Canadian?" One student does not seem interested. Once home, she sits to think about what she wants to say when she hears another question from a speaker not seen: "Can you hear the voices of the Old Ones speaking to you in a language you've forgotten?'
In his adaptation of "The Canada Poem" by Richard Wagamese, David A. Robertson keeps the words and spellings true to the original in every way possible. Asking a child to listen to the voices of those who came before them recurs often, while explaining the circle that includes everyone who stepped on this land.
Richard Wagamese and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley are honored Ojibway book creators. The poem is a celebration of Canada, its diversity, and beauty. It asks readers and all Canadians to stop and listen to the land and to those who came before. They speak many languages and talk to us from the spirit world where there is no color, no skin, no time, and no history ... only spirit.
The voices ask readers and listeners to take pride in their country, a place where great things happen at every turn in every area. The story of Canada is woven in threads from our diversity, our industries, our jobs, and our families. Old Ones' voices, when heard, provide comfort and pride. They offer guidance for each and every one of us. We are all the story of Canada.
The poem speaks to a new generation of Indigenous children, while also welcoming everyone who has played a part in honoring the past, and belonging today. Community connections hold great importance for all Canadians, past and present. The more often I read it and pay careful attention to the words, the more pride I feel for my home, Canada.
It's hard to do justice to the beauty of the remarkable art that accompanies Mr. Wagamese's words. Brilliant in both color and detail, it projects a true sense of the spirit world while also honoring the Canadian landscape. Its symbols of Indigenous culture for the child doing her homework, alongside images of many other people from different cultures ensure pride for those who find community here. The final spread shows all manner of people walking across a turtle's back in celebration.
https://youtu.be/6yLJxMZvRGU?si=RbeQpL0lWFaGU0SO
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