Aimée Craft Author Talk at Middle Grade Magic 2021

Summary

Author May Craft discusses her book 'Treaty Words for as Long as the River Flows' in an online chat hosted by Anik Press. Craft, an Anishinaabe Metis lawyer and professor, shares her experiences and the importance of treaties as agreements to live well together. She emphasizes the book's accessibility to all ages and its potential to inspire conversations about relationships with nature and indigenous laws. Craft also answers questions about the book's inspiration and her writing process, highlighting the significance of storytelling and the relational nature of indigenous laws.

Takeaways

• 📚 Amay Craft is the author of 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows', a book published by Anik Press.
• 🌳 Amay is an Anishinaabe Metis lawyer and an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Indigenous laws, treaties, and waters.
• 🎨 The book is beautifully written and accompanied by evocative illustrations that complement the storytelling.
• 🌟 The book is intended for young people but is suitable for readers of all ages, aiming to be a shared reading experience.
• 🔍 The central theme of the book revolves around treaties as agreements to share land and live well together, emphasizing relationships and collective well-being.
• 🌱 The author encourages readers to connect with nature and loved ones while reading, to reflect and understand the importance of treaty relationships.
• 👵 The storytelling style is influenced by Anishinaabe tradition, with a focus on oral storytelling and the spirit of words.
• 🌐 The author discusses the contrast between Western law, which is individualistic and conflict-oriented, and Indigenous law, which values relationships and collective well-being.
• 🌿 The book serves as a tool to make treaties relatable and understandable, aiming to breathe life into treaty relationships.
• 📖 The author's process involves telling stories multiple times to refine them, emphasizing the importance of sharing stories out loud for collective interpretation.
• 🏡 Practical suggestions for readers inspired by the book include building relationships, learning about local treaties, and contributing to the well-being of the community and environment.

Q & A

Who is May Craft and what is her background?

May Craft is an Anishinaabe Metis lawyer from Treaty One territory in Manitoba, Canada. She is also an associate professor at the Faculty of Common Law at the University of Ottawa and a leading researcher on Indigenous laws, treaties, and waters.

What is the title of May Craft's book and when was it published?

The title of May Craft's book is 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows' and it was published by Anik Press on the day of the chat.

What is the intended audience for 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows'?

The book is primarily intended for young people, but it is also meant to be a book for everyone and is meant to be read together.

What is the significance of the book's title 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows'?

The title signifies the enduring nature of treaties, which are agreements to live together on the land for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.

What is the central theme of the book 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows'?

The central theme of the book is the importance of treaties, relationships, and living well together on the land, as well as the interconnectedness of all things.

How does May Craft describe the process of writing 'Treaty Words for As Long As the River Flows'?

May Craft describes her writing process as an oral storytelling tradition, telling the story many times to her nieces and nephews before getting it onto paper.

What does May Craft wish for young readers to take away from her book?

May Craft wishes for young readers to understand that treaties are agreements to share the land and live well together, and to recognize their own treaty obligations.

How does May Craft suggest that readers engage with the book?

May Craft suggests that readers engage with the book by reading it out loud and sharing it with others, as the collective interpretation and spirit of the story are as important as the words on the page.

What is the connection between the book and May Craft's academic work?

The book connects to May Craft's academic work by making treaties relatable and understandable to people, emphasizing that they are not just words on pages but agreements to work together and live together.

How does May Craft describe the difference between Western law and Anishinaabe law?

Western law is centered on individuals and private interests, often involving conflict, while Anishinaabe law is relational, considering all relationships and striving towards collective well-being.

What practical steps does May Craft suggest for families inspired by the book to live well together?

May Craft suggests learning about the treaty of your area, understanding the traditional names of the territory, and making inquiries about how to contribute to the treaty relationship.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to the Author and Book

The video begins with Stephanie from Anik Press welcoming viewers to a 4:30 p.m. chat, introducing May Craft, the author of 'Treaty Words for as Long as the River Flows,' published by Anik Press. May Craft is an Anishinaabe Metis lawyer, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, and a leading researcher on Indigenous laws, treaties, and waters. Stephanie praises the book's writing and illustrations, expressing excitement for the discussion. May Craft thanks Stephanie and the audience for joining, sharing her wish to be together in person, and setting the scene by describing her current location in Treaty One territory, Manitoba, Canada. She emphasizes the importance of reading the book in a reflective space connected to nature and loved ones. May Craft introduces the book's purpose, targeting young people but suitable for all ages, aiming to spark conversations about treaties and relationships with the land and each other.

05:00

🌿 Excerpt Reading and Discussion on Treaties

May Craft reads an excerpt from her book, describing a scene where a grandfather, Michomas, and a young girl sit by a river, listening to nature's sounds and sharing stories. Michomas teaches the girl to hear and understand the environment around them, reflecting on their connection to the land and each other. The story then transitions to Michomas explaining the concept of treaties as agreements to live and work together, like the original treaty between the Earth and the Sky. May Craft shares her emotional connection to the story, reminiscing about her own experiences and the importance of passing these stories and teachings to younger generations. The conversation then opens up to questions from the audience, with Stephanie prompting viewers to use the 'raise hand' function to participate.

10:01

🌱 The Purpose and Impact of Storytelling

The discussion continues with questions about the book's impact on younger readers. May Craft expresses her desire for readers to understand treaties as agreements to share the land and live well together, emphasizing the importance of relationships and collective well-being. She shares her unique writing process, which involves telling stories repeatedly to her nieces and nephews, allowing the story to evolve and resonate. May Craft also discusses how her book is a personal contribution to understanding treaty relationships and the need to breathe life into these agreements. The conversation highlights the significance of oral storytelling and the spirit of words in Indigenous culture.

15:01

🌟 Personal Experiences and the Concept of Renewal

May Craft shares that much of the story is drawn from her personal experiences, emphasizing the reality of treaty stories and their relevance to modern life. She discusses an eye-opening moment of understanding the concept of renewal through observing nature's collaboration. The conversation explores the differences between Indigenous views and settler laws, highlighting the relational nature of Indigenous law versus the individualistic and conflict-driven nature of Western law. May Craft explains the interconnectedness of all things in Indigenous perspectives and how this理念 contrasts with the Western focus on individual rights and obligations.

20:05

🌱 Practical Steps for Living Well Together

The final part of the discussion focuses on how to apply the teachings of the book to daily life. May Craft suggests building relationships, educating oneself about the treaties of one's area, and understanding the traditional names and contributions of the Indigenous nations. She mentions her work on a project exploring the concept of 'land back,' or returning lands and territories, as part of the conversation on living well together. May Craft encourages gaining knowledge and building relationships as the first steps towards change. The chat concludes with thanks from Stephanie and May Craft, and an invitation for viewers to pick up the book and engage with its teachings.

Keywords

💡Treaty

A treaty is a formal, legally binding agreement between different nations or states. In the context of the video, treaties are agreements that were made between Indigenous peoples and the Crown, outlining how they would live together on the land. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding treaties as living relationships rather than static documents, with obligations to share the land and live well together.

💡Anishinaabe

The Anishinaabe are a group of Indigenous peoples native to North America, primarily in the region around the Great Lakes. In the video, the author identifies as Anishinaabe and discusses Anishinaabe perspectives on treaties and laws, which are rooted in relationships with the land and all living beings.

💡Métis

The Métis are one of the three Aboriginal peoples in Canada, with a distinct culture and history. The author identifies as Anishinaabe Métis, highlighting the Métis' significant role in Canadian history and their contributions to understanding treaties and Indigenous laws.

💡Indigenous Laws

Indigenous laws refer to the legal systems, customs, and traditions of Indigenous peoples. The video discusses the importance of recognizing and integrating Indigenous laws, particularly in relation to environmental stewardship and treaty agreements, as they are centered around relationships and collective well-being.

💡Treaty One Territory

Treaty One Territory refers to the land that falls under the terms of the Treaty One agreement in Canada. The author mentions being from Treaty One Territory in Manitoba, Canada, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting the treaties that govern the land one resides on.

💡Renewal

Renewal in the video is discussed as a concept tied to the changing seasons and the natural cycles of the environment. It is also linked to the idea of renewing relationships and treaty agreements, suggesting a continuous process of revitalizing and upholding the commitments made in treaties.

💡Relationality

Relationality is a concept that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. In the video, the author discusses how Indigenous laws view all relationships as interdependent, contrasting with Western legal systems that often focus on individual rights and conflicts.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is a traditional method of passing down knowledge and values within Indigenous cultures. The author mentions the importance of storytelling in her culture and how her writing process involves telling stories repeatedly to capture the oral tradition's essence.

💡Respect

Respect in the video is discussed as a foundational aspect of treaty relationships, implying a mutual regard and acknowledgment of each other's rights and dignity. It is part of the broader set of values that underpin how treaties should be honored and lived.

💡Reciprocity

Reciprocity refers to the mutual exchange of resources, support, or actions. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a key principle in treaty relationships, suggesting that all parties involved should contribute to and benefit from the agreements made.

💡Land Back

The concept of 'Land Back' refers to the return of lands and territories to their original Indigenous stewards. The author mentions working on a project exploring this concept, indicating a movement towards rectifying historical injustices and restoring Indigenous connections to their ancestral lands.

Highlights

Introduction of Amay as an Anishinaabe Metis lawyer and a leading researcher on indigenous laws, treaties, and waters.

Publication of Amay's book 'Treaty Words for as Long as the River Flows' by Anik Press.

Amay's desire to share her book in person and the significance of her home territory in Manitoba, Canada.

The book's intention to be read in a natural environment and its relevance to all ages.

Amay's reading of an excerpt from the book, highlighting the beauty of silence and the sounds of nature.

The story's central theme of connection to the land and the importance of treaties.

Amay's emotional connection to the story and her experiences on the riverbank.

The question from the chat about what young readers should take away from the story.

Amay's hope that readers understand treaties as agreements to share land and live well together.

The personal and academic significance of the book to Amay.

Amay's unique writing process and the importance of storytelling in her tradition.

The personal experiences and stories that influenced the book's content.

The contrast between indigenous views and settler laws in terms of relationships and collective well-being.

Amay's explanation of how indigenous laws differ fundamentally from Western law.

The importance of understanding the spirit and intent of treaties.

Practical suggestions for families to engage with treaties and live well together.

The closing thoughts on the book's impact and the importance of relationships with nature and each other.

Transcripts

thank you so much for joining us today

uh welcome to

our our 4 30 p.m chat my name is

stephanie from anik press and today we

are so excited

to have a may craft with us the author

of treaty words

for as long as the river flows which is

published today by anik press

um amay is an anishinaabe metis lawyer

from treaty one territory

in manitoba canada and she is

an associate professor at the faculty of

common law at the university of ottawa

and a leading researcher on indigenous

laws

treaties and waters ame thank you so

much for joining us today we're so

excited to have you

it's my pleasure to be here absolutely

um

this is a just a beautiful book and the

your writing is so evocative and luke's

photos and and

illustrations rather really lend a lot

to your words so i'm hoping today you

can

you can share some of your writing with

us and then um

after we do a bit of reading we'll open

it up to the chat if there's any

questions from

from our group here sure um

thanks stephanie i i just want to start

by saying

um how much i wish we could be sitting

in person

um and for those of you who have picked

up the book i really wish we could be

sitting by a fire together

it's a really nice day where i'm talk

well

nice it's that's all relative uh it's

gray but it's warm

where i'm uh speaking to you from and

it's um it's my home territory so i'm in

treaty one territory in manitoba

um i'm not sitting by a river by a fire

because the wi-fi would be

probably a significant issue which is

our our current day modern problem that

many of us are experiencing

but i did want to say that i hope that

each of you will have an opportunity to

sit and read this

in a space where you can take some time

to reflect and be in connection

with your natural environment and and

hopefully that that includes being in

connection with

some of the people that you love

including some of the young people in

your life

and i just also wanted to preface this

by saying

the book is uh you know has a target

audience of of young people but um

it's really a book for everyone and it's

in my view meant to be read

together so i think it's a perfect

bedtime storybook

um it's a perfect morning coffee hanging

out in pajamas saturday morning book

um and i think that it's one that will

spur some conversations around

uh the kitchen table and uh around

um you know sitting around uh either by

a fire

or um you know in those spaces that that

each of us finds comfortable so

if you can kind of maybe close your eyes

i can't see you

but transport yourself into that that

cozy space

um and i'll read a brief excerpt from

sort of the center

of the book and then a piece from a

little bit further on in the book

so on these and other visits they sat

looking across and at the river

sometimes talking to each other but more

often sitting in silence

listening the beauty of their silence

was in everything

that they heard around them michomas

who's the grandfather

taught her how to hear challenging her

to understand each sound

from the most pronounced bird calls to

the subtle sound

of tiny insects crawling around in the

grass

one particular spring which followed a

winter with

more snow and cold weather than in

previous years

she went to visit him he'd come back

from his spring trip

but much of the land still rested under

thin

interspersed pockets of snow

they sat on the tall bank of the river

facing east

looking towards the other distant bank

he recounted tales of snaring rabbits

finding old camps building fires

drinking tea

hearing a baby moose being born and

eating fresh fish

from the small spring fed lakes

then they sat and let the silent speak

they were surrounded by tall grass

weighing in the wind

the midday sun warming their faces

the trees were making their spring

sounds popping and cracking

the snow blowing by and wishing against

her skin

and spring birds making their small and

distinctive calls

the geese honked as they flew over

telling her and mishomas

that they had seen them the geese wanted

them to know that they'd made it home

they heard all of these sounds above

that of the ice breaking

at once subtle deafening calming

and distracting every sound was

outside and inside of them

they knew that all this would be

happening with or without them

and that they were such a small part of

creation

although the sun was warm michoma set

out to build a small fire

that was usually a sign that someone

would be by to visit

or that they might be sitting out for

another long while

the fire was to keep them warm and make

tea

but mostly it was a place to hold their

gaze as they told stories

jokes or as they sat in silence

so this is a bit later in their day

michomas paused

to throw some tea bags in the boiling

water

and this is what he said the first

treaty that was made between the earth

and the sky

it was an agreement to work together we

build

all our treaties on that original treaty

and that's what we said to the crown

when they came to discuss how we would

like to live together

on this land for as long as the sun

shines the grass grows

and the rivers flow like the original

treaty

the young girl and her michomas then sat

in silence

she listened to the flow of the river

and the wind moving around in the grass

and she felt her face warm with the glow

of the fire

and the spring sun

so that's what i wanted to share with

you today in terms

of an excerpt from the book actually i

feel

a little bit emotional reading parts of

it because i feel transposed back to a

time when

i got to do this um and i actually

missed those opportunities

to sit on the riverbank and and just

listen in silence

thank you for for the opportunity to

share this with you

thank you very much for sharing with us

today may and it's

it's true it brings me back to my

childhood as well and

my kokum always told us such beautiful

stories my kokum is my grandmother

and it was so important to learn from

her and to carry those stories with us

and it's it's

it's an honor to hear a story from

somebody else so thank you

very much um we'd like to open

to any questions from the chat um i have

a few questions of my own that i'd like

to ask

so if nobody has anything burning right

now

i can i can pop up a couple of questions

myself or if you'd like to be unmuted

please let us know and we can unmute you

and you can ask

in may directly

i wonder if people are familiar with the

raise hand function

which is in the reactions it used to be

in a different place in zoom and now

it's in reactions

so you can send me smiley faces you can

put smiley faces up on your profile but

you can also

use a function in there that's called

raised hand

and then we can unmute you can you can

ask your question

i now teach fully online so these are

tools that i use every day

myself actually um we talked about how

important it is for stories and

histories

oh i'm sorry we've got a question in the

chat

from adobe treaty words is beautifully

written

what would you like younger readers to

take away from the story

thank you um i would love for young

readers

to take away a few things the first um

is really about how

the central character um is them

also that they are big and they're small

and they're connected to everything and

that they have

treaty obligations and so you know

in in order to see themselves um

and and be in that that space i think um

each each person needs to kind of

connect with

with that story and to take from that

their

their treaty obligations so uh in terms

of a

substantive takeaway i think that

if young people are reading this and

understanding that treaties are

agreements to share

in land and to live well together then

the book will have done

its work and um yeah i'm primarily an

academic i didn't ever think in my life

that i would write

a children's book um and i'm really

grateful

to mary beth who suggested that it it

the story become a children's book

because the main

purpose in writing this was to

make treaties have

real-life sense to people they're not

words on pages

they're agreements to work together to

live together

they're about relationships and so

if you can understand that you know

everything

before us was relational in in

relationship that all of our natural

environment is in relationship

then we can see how we need to try and

do better in terms of

understanding those treaty relationships

that were built by our ancestors and and

give them

uh some effect today and so my adult

version of

something like this book that talks

about anishinabe understandings of

treaty

is called breathing life into the stone

for a treaty and i

i i love that title it came in a

ceremony

and it i think that's the most important

thing

that we need to do collectively is to

breathe life

into our treaty relationships and this

book is

is one small contribution towards that

thank you that was it was you hit it

perfectly on my head so thank you so

much for and thank you adobe for your

question

um are there any more questions that

anyone wants to pop into the chat or

if you'd like us to unmute you you can

absolutely ask your question directly

um great thank you um

your writing is so beautiful and

evocative like i've already mentioned

and luke's imagery just

further brings it to life and i think

the idea of

reading this story out in in

nature with by the fire by the river is

so

is so inspiring um when you were writing

this book did you have that in mind

did you find that the writing process

energized you in any way

i have a very odd writing process and

for those of you who are artists of any

form you'll know that

everybody has a different way of doing

things so i like to tell the story many

many times

my nieces and nephews yeah they'll hear

the same story over and over again

um so i like to tell the story and and i

think that that's

part of my my upbringing and my

tradition is to

storytell and my writing

as you've seen is is trying to

communicate in a very accessible and

authentic way

what it is that we would say and you can

hear it in um

you know the michonne's words that those

are really

how he would speak and how he would

share the story of treaty

um and i think that that part is

important and then

trying to then get an oral story onto

paper kind of becomes this

this funny process i don't know if i've

really

mastered it and i really um appreciate

those who worked on editing

the story to make it um make it clear

but to me you know the way this is

written is the way that it sounds in my

head and the way that it

came out and i think that um

that's really important because words

have a spirit and

stories have a spirit and that's part of

why i hope

that people read the book out loud

because it really

is meant to be one of those types of

of stories where you share it with other

people and what you then

are able to bring to it collectively is

just as important as the words on paper

absolutely thank you so much so we've

got

a few questions in the chat here now

how much of the story is pulled from

your personal experience

uh a lot of it um and that was part of

the question

about you know whether this is actually

fiction

um you know the story of treaty is real

um

and so in that you know that's um

that i think is an important part of the

history

of uh canada and other different treaty

territories it's also part of our modern

lived experience and something that i

think we need to

as i said earlier do better on um on

you know living that relationship

but a lot of it is based on you know

conversations that i've had

over time and experiences that i've had

laying by the river and listening to the

ice breakup

and seeing that collaboration between

the sun

and the water and being able to lend an

interpretive lens to that and saying

wow this is what the concept of renewal

actually is modeled on was

an eye-opening experience for me because

i think as young people you're either

searching for information

or pushing information away and this is

a description of a moment in time where

i had taken enough in that i was able to

come up with my own interpretation of

what was happening

and apply the knowledge that had been

shared with me

in a way that allowed me to kind of dive

deeper into my own understanding

and and i love those moments right of

remembering

things that you've been taught or told

and

applying it in your own way and if young

people

are able to see that in this character

that she's not just a listener

she's a thinker and she's a doer and

she's

having her own ideas um and then she

wants to act

i think those are all really important

empowering takeaway messages

absolutely yeah it's really inspiring to

see

and to read her thoughts and her

understandings of

the teachings that she's being given um

also from the chat we're so struck by

your description

of how all is relational so sort of i

guess piggybacking off of your

your previous answer how do you straddle

indigenous views with settler laws

this is this is the bulk of my academic

work

um is really trying to understand uh

and highlight these differences and make

space for indigenous laws to be part of

decision making

especially in environmental contexts and

relating to water and and treaties as

well

i think you know one of the things that

i want to point out is the fundamental

difference in

how we understand law from different

perspectives

and from you know a western perspective

law

is completely built around individuals

and protecting private interests and a

lot of it is centered around conflict

right adversarial processes and

um people having obligations um

and then rights and then you know it's a

lot about breaking those relationships

whereas if you think about anishinaabe

law and its intent

and its structure it is relational

you're taking into account all of those

relationships

all the time and weighing how your

relationship with one being has an

impact on others and vice versa and that

becomes this complex web of

interconnected relationships

that are all striving towards the same

thing which is

when or a collective sense of well-being

and trying to maintain not only

your yourself in that wellness but

everyone

and all things around you and one of the

moments that i thought was very

interesting and humbling is

asking some elders like how would you

if you add uh the prefix knee

it means mine so would you add that to

menopause

and they said to me that doesn't exist

that concept of your own

only yourself well-being it doesn't

exist because your well-being is

dependent

on the well-being of others that are in

relationship with you

and that was another very profound

moment that it doesn't make its way into

this book but i think it might in the

next is

trying to understand you know that that

idea of relationality as being

uh interconnected through

the concepts of of wellness and

collective wellness

and i think that you know this this book

starts to hint at it but

there's a lot more to to unpack there so

if you contrast

these laws so the systems that help us

make

good decisions one is centered on

individuals

and protection of private property for

the most part and grounded in conflict

the other is relationships and

collective well-being

and we can see that they're completely

different ways of seeing the world

completely different ways of making

decisions and

you know if you think about how treaties

were made in their intent

the anishinaabe parties or indigenous

nations that helped make

treaties were really bringing this this

framework and this thought

to the negotiation and saying we'll

agree to work together

will be in relationship and it will be

for our collective well-being

so if we think about that along with

concepts like respect and renewal and

reciprocity

as part of the treaty relationship then

we have a very very different

understanding than what's written and

what becomes

land transactions and contracts and

that's when we really start getting into

the spirit and intent of treaties

thank you yeah it's a it's a very

fulsome and a huge topic to

to get into and i think you know

especially heading into spring it's it's

a time of renewal i think this is a

really

fantastic book for people to read to

to to rethink their relationship with

nature and the meaning of treaties and

how they're

they're acting and their relationships

with everybody and everything around

them

so thank you for that um do you have any

more

any more questions in the chat here

today

or if anyone would like to be unmuted

that's we definitely encourage that

we've got another question here if

if if a child or family is inspired to

become more active and living well

together

or sharing the land could you offer

suggestions

yeah um well building relationships is

number one

in contributing um so you know not

wanting to have relationships where you

take but

rather where there's that reciprocity

that's that's engaged and

um and educating uh ourselves and each

other i think is

really important um supporting

um and then there are some very

practical things that

we can do so learn you know the treaty

of your area who are the people what are

the traditional names

of the territory on on which you are

residing

um make inquiries about what kind of

contributions those nations are

asking for you to make into the treaty

relationship

and so it's not going to be the same

everywhere across canada that's going to

be

a regional and specific and relational

right now i'm working on

a project with the david suzuki

foundation where we're exploring the

concept of land back

so returning lands and territories i

think is another important part of the

conversation

and so there's a lot of different ways

where we can really engage

um with these different

approaches to living well together and

i think the first step is you know that

gaining that knowledge and building

relationships that's what's going to

make change

thank you thank you so much for for your

time with us today

and your your wisdom and your beautiful

words it's been

it's been really inspiring and like i

said spring is here the sun is shining i

can't wait to go outside and

and to share your book with everybody

that i i cross paths with

um if there are any more questions uh

from the chat i think

we're heading to our time here uh so i

just wanted to say thank you again to

amay and thank you to everybody for your

questions today

and to and for joining us and please

pick up treaty words wherever it's about

available for you thank you so much

thank you thank you make witch

you