When we Walk Together in a good way, we learn to see and understand the world through Etuaptmumk—the gift of multiple perspectives, or Two-Eyed Seeing. By braiding Indigenous and non-Indigenous worldviews through respectful, reciprocal, responsible relationships on and with the land, we do so for the benefit of all, including for our eco-kin.
A poetic, joyful celebration of the Lands and Waters as spring unfolds: children learn respect and responsibility through relationships as they watch for Robin’s return, listen for Frog’s croaking, and wonder at Maple tree’s gift of sap.
Mi’kmaw Elder Albert and Louise, Bras D’Or Lake, Eskasoni, Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia. “When we walk together in a good way on Turtle Island, we are all connected. Mawikywk (ma-wee-gywg) – together we are strong.”
Translated by Barbara Sylliboy and Arlene Stevens, Eskasoni First Nation. In Mi’kmaw, Menaraj Pemwije’tul’tik means to walk together gently and mindfully, with intention, caring for all even our smallest relatives. “How will our ancestors and relatives understand us if we don’t speak in our language?” ~Elder Albert D. Marshall
“A beautiful celebration of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of respecting the land. . . . This is a great educational resource for elementary collections, and could serve as a powerful conversation starter for classroom discussions on the environment.”- School Library Journal, 05/26/23
“A lovely book to add to home, public or school collections.”- Canadian Children’s Book News, Spring/23
“A gentle and beautiful exploration of how Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can see the world through two eyes—from two perspectives—which leads to an understanding that we are all connected and that we need each other to be strong.”- Canadian Teacher, Spring/23
With Donovon Marshall (grandson) at Waves 2024 Global Indigenous Conference, intergenerational language learning
With Governor General Mary Simon at Elder Albert’s Order of Canada Ceremony.: Canada’s 30th Governor General and the first Indigenous person to serve in that role.
Review Copy, read at Moondilly Treats, Revelstoke, B.C. I liked the part with the love heart and the trees and the heart with the hands.
I liked the start of the book, the trees and the winter. I liked the sky, when it was pink and purple. We have a cedar at our school, her name is Grandmother Tree. She is the longest and oldest. She gives what the other trees need. We visit then tree when we need to. My teacher’s name is Miss Sheldon – she is fun and we get to go outside alot. We had an Indigenous person come to the class yesterday and teach us about the Three Sisters and we had the soup. I like being in nature, the trees can give you oxygen and people go jogging in the forest. know about the lands we live on: the Sinixt, Secwepemc, Sylix, Ktunaxa. The book makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Allirah (age 5) Kirabella (age 3): I liked the froggie and the butterfly. MJ (mom to Allirah and Kirabella) – I loved the beaver page – the colours, it felt really alive.
Your wonderful book arrived just in time for Duke’s 84th birthday. We love it as we knew we would. It is so important. Duke did a reading for our entertainment and will use it this Wednesday when he speaks to TDSB Principals and VP about our Symbiotic relationship with nature. Thanks and BRAVO. Elder Duke Redbird, Saugeen First Nation and Nancy Wolfe
The book is wonderful. Of course, the first thing that is seen is the stunning artwork. So beautiful. Opening the book to the first page, is like walking with the people in the story — on a snowy blanket of snow under a larimar coloured sky and big yellow sun. The words immediately bring peace to my heart. I felt compelled to read the book nice and slowly and mindfully – to drink in all of the good medicine of each page. The book has so many trees and I am a lover of trees — all kinds of trees. I love their branches and how sway in the wind and I love the roots that reach out deep into the earth in all directions. I like the teachings on each page. My favourite is when we walk on the land “we leave things where they are.” I realize that I need to search for the story of the frog and why he did not share his gift of water. Even animals who make mistakes are our teachers. The imagery in this book is so colourful with a balance of shades that are soft and calming, some deep and some bold. I feel like every page could be made into a silk scarf and I would buy them all and add them to my collection of 60 plus scarves. Ha ha.Or t-shirts!! They would make amazing t-shirts. I would wear a different page every day. Ha ha. Everything in this book is soft and rounded. No hard or jagged edges. Even the rocks are round like grey mangos. It is full of many things I already loved – like bullrushes, foxes, willow trees, flying birds with elegant wings, flowing streams, a deer drinking water, a mother bird watching over her nest of baby birds, a kind faced Indigenous man guarding and smiling as he watches children play. The book even makes me appreciate things that I haven’t admired so much to date- like frogs. But I must admit, the frogs look so happy and chubby as they take long leaps to each lilly pad. Wow – those are long leaps. Mostly I like that this book creates a mood and atmosphere of peacefulness. It feels like every footstep on Mother Earth that is taken by the children and adults is gentle. They are grateful and joyful and in wonderment of the beauty that surrounds them. I am very grateful that you co-authored this book and that you gifted me a copy. My grandson Lucas loves, loves, loves books. He takes his time and absorbs each pageeven as an 8 month old. (and he has been attracted to books this way since he was tiny.) So thank you again. Yaw^koh. Keep doing the good work that you are doing. I hope to see you in the community again sometime soon. Patricia (aka Pat aka Patti) Chrisjohn, Oneida First Nation
Everyone I spoke to loved your talk and echoed what a fun and engaging session it was. I love that you and Albert showed them how building a meaningful relationship with each other, creating space for each other’s ways and knowledges resulted in a beautiful ECE program and book. It showed how you two walk together so that others can do the same. Kerry Potts, Professor & Indigenous Pedagogy and Curriculum Consultant, Algonquin College, Ottawa
I recently gave this book to my brother and his wife. As someone who is of British and Mohawk descent, I resonate with the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing and feel like this perspective is a no-brainer as we walk on treaty land. Check out this book if you have children in your life and would like to introduce perspectives in a way that makes sense to them. Kaitlyn Chapman, Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator
Thanks for being part of our story, to inform, inspire, and spark imagination. Thank you for hosting a great kids activity with us. Word On The Street (WOTS) 2024, Toronto
Using the frog puppet with the book and then adventuring in the arboretum to see them live!
With Tewa scholar Gregory Cajete, Stenistolw Indigenous Education Conference, 2024
It was fun to read the book in the forest with the animals and the birds, that is co-learning. Amanpreet K., ECE Student, Humber, Toronto, Ontario
Wilton Littlechild, former TRC Commissioner
This is a beautiful way to understand Etuaptmumk, Two-Eyed Seeing, the best one I have read. Helen Bernard -Ward, Early Learning and Childcare Coordinator, SCD Manager, Mi’kmaq Tribal Council, New Brunswick
Oh my goodness…Walking Together! What a wonderful, timely, stunning book it is. A copy should be on the shelf of every primary school library. Congratulations on the journey and the final resulting product. It will inform and encourage discussion for readers of all ages. What a truly awesome accomplishment. Mary M., Former primary school teacher, Guelph, Ontario
The book is stunning, the words, the illustrations, and meaning, all of it. I really can’t get over it. I read it to J as a bed-time story. I have no idea if he understood it (he’s 2.5), but he loved pointing at the pictures and wanted to read it again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for sending us a copy. Truly magnificent. Hila, B.C.
Thank you, Wela’lin for teaching us that everything in nature, no matter how small, has something to teach us. Respect the nature. Respect the Land. Avneet, ECE student, Humber, Toronto, Ontario
Thank you, Elder Albert Marshall, for teaching us how we can walk together. My grandmother is part Indigenous, I want to learn more of her stories. Lucas, ECE student, Humber, Toronto, Ontario
