Native American Heritage Month: Spotlight on Julie Flett

Julie Flett's name has appeared on this blog before.

The Cree-Métis illustrator worked on one of my favorite children's books, Little You by Richard Van Camp, and reliably appeared on lists of recommended books.

Birdsong came up more than once, and I think it was looking at it again that made me want to review all of her work. She often illustrates with digital collages, but not exclusively. I find her work very visually appealing.

I was able to check out almost everything. There is one book showing on Goodreads as not yet released (Best in Show, September 2024), and one compilation that may not be in general publication (A River of Stories, Volume 3: Air).

There is a strong connection to nature throughout that I appreciate. 

Books read this time were mostly picture books, but there was one other book that was a little more complicated that I really loved.

The Journey Forward: A Novella on Reconciliation 

There was a foreword by Alison Gear, then two short books:

When We Play Our Drums, They Sing! by Richard Van Camp and Lucy and Lola written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett

Both books center on young protagonists, too young for residential schools themselves, but having parents and grandparents who did go to residential schools.

It is the first time I have seen attention paid to the parents after the children were gone, and what it was like for them, and also a good explanation of how that affects the generations. Having the two books together makes it more effective.

Without shortchanging the pain or problems, both stories are ultimately optimistic, and it is good that they are out in the world.

I highly recommend them, even for adults, though the target audience is probably early adolescents.

Flett's work is not as prominent here, which makes sense for the context, but it was something I was very glad that I read, and that happened because I liked her work and sought out more.

That is a good pattern.

Picture books read this time around:

by Julie Flett
Wild Berries
Owls See Clearly At Night: A Michif Alphabet 

illustrations for other authors

We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp
Just Like Grandma by Kim Rogers
Dragonfly Kites by Tomson Highway
Zoe and the Fawn by Catherine Jamison Johnny's Pheasant by Cheryl Minnema Dolphin SOS by Roy and Slavia Miki, and Richard Cannings The Moccasins by Earl Einarson