On the Trapline by David Alexander Robertson & Julie Flett (Illustrations)

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 4, 2021 by Tundra Books.

A young boy and his Moshom (Grandfather) travel to the north to visit the family's trapline where Moshom grew up.

On the journey the boy learns what life was like for Moshom. Throughout the book, readers, along with the boy, are introduced to aspects of Cree culture, experiences, and history. Life is, and was, very different from the boy's city life. Some experiences, like swimming in a lake and playing with friends are similar. Others, like living in close quarters, working outdoors, eating berries right from the tree, fishing, and being sent away to school, are not. 

Each section of the book ends with a Swampy Cree word and it's translation. These create a kind of sacred pause that serve to accentuate the significance of the passage. 

At one point they visit the remains of an old building where Moshom went to residential school. Two important words punctuate this recollection. The boy learns from his elder that, "Most of the kids only spoke Cree, but at the school, all us had to talk and learn in English." Moshom adds, "My friends and I snuck into the bush so we could speak our language." 

Ininimowin means "Cree Language."

The boy asks what it was like going to school after living on the trapline. After a long time Moshum replies, "I learned in both places... I just learned different things." 

Pahkan means "different."

The back matter contains notes from the author and illustrator as well as a glossary of the Swampy Cree words used in the book. 

As soon as I started reading this I was reminded of Black Water by David Robertson, an autobiographical biography of his relationship with his father. The two of them journeyed together to the family's trapline. I was happy to see this connection confirmed in the author's note in the back matter. In this book it feels like Robertson is sharing the essential truths he discovered about his father and himself on that expedition. 

Julie Flett's artwork is superbly glorious as always. There is something nostalgic about her work here. Perhaps it's the context of the story, but it might because her family come from the same place as Robertson's. It feels like it reflects her own personal connection to their shared landscape. 

Highly recommended. I expect this book to win awards.