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Volume 2, Number 7, November-December 2006 
Aboriginal Stories
More and more individuals are interested in Canada's Aboriginal peoples, their history and their traditional way of life. Library and Archives Canada strives to meet this interest by making the Aboriginal documentary heritage from its collection better known to the public. Accordingly, the 2006-2007 edition of Read Up On It, a bilingual publication devoted to Canadian children's literature, has chosen to feature books that highlight different aspects of Aboriginal culture. Grouped under the title "Aboriginal Stories," the books presented include Aboriginal tales and legends--sometimes in new adaptations--and documentary accounts that offer young readers the opportunity to learn about the customs and spiritual beliefs of Aboriginal peoples. The novels tackle a number of difficult subjects head-on: the former residential schools, for example, and the integration of modern life with ancestral traditions. The selection also explores historical events and heroes, encounters between European and Aboriginal civilizations, the respect for nature, the transmission of values from one generation to the next, and the introduction of young people to rituals such as hunting and fishing. The marvellously illustrated texts, written originally in English or in French, are sometimes accompanied by an Aboriginal version, such as Cree or Inuktitut. One of the goals of Read Up On It is to increase public awareness of the extraordinary talent of Canadian authors and illustrators working in the field of children's literature. This year's issue is enriched by the contributions of Aboriginal storytellers, artists and Elders eager to share their rich heritage. The result is an irresistible invitation to experience the joy of reading and to explore the world of the Other. Read Up On It - Aboriginal Stories |
