amõ’s õsapotawan = Amõ’s Sapotawan

William Dumas’ book, Amo’s Sapotawan, is the second book in his series, “The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Ithiniwak”, with the first being The Gift of the Little People. The series tells the stories of the Rocky Cree people of north-central Manitoba in the mid-1600’s. With this series, Dumas has taken on the role of teaching youth about the old ways of how the Rocky Cree people lived and survived.

Amo’s Sapotawan is written with rich descriptions of cultural observations, traditional elements and learning. The knowledge and understanding of nature are interwoven throughout the story intuitively, with an example being a passage that described the time of the molting moon as the period when waterfowl shed their feathers and grew new ones. The culture and traditions that are a part of Amo’s life are present in everything that she sees and hears, such as the beauty of her brother’s singing the evening song. Cree words are a part of the story and help to illuminate the storytelling atmosphere in Dumas’ writing.

Rhian Brynjolson’s illustrations are as rich as the storytelling. Her paintings are presented in the deep colours of the forest and in the brightness of the sunny skies looking over the water. The art complements the story in presenting the community in their daily activities and the beauty of nature as being both peaceful and pristine, echoing the message of respecting the land.

The combination of the storytelling and lovely illustrations gives readers a picture of what this world may have looked like. Readers see folks complete their daily tasks which include catching fish, harvesting berries, living with wildlife, surviving forest fires, and celebrating achievements. The village is alive with everyday tasks that support community.

Amo is a young girl preparing for Sapotawana, a rite of passage that is celebrated by Rocky Cree youth at around the age of fourteen. As Amo considers her way through the journey that will help her find her path in life, she will consider her skills and decide on how she will share these gifts within her community. Her gifts and how she uses them will also guide her in evolving to be the person that she is meant to be. In the introduction of the book, the author asks readers as they read about Amo to consider what their own life journeys will be and what their own gift and skills will be.

Also of importance is that, for further knowledge, in each of the page spreads the book also offers definitions and an overview of artifacts and cultural information that are featured in the story.