Grandfather Bear: A Story Told in Cree

Kelly L. Green is editor of the Canadian Book Review Annual’s
Children’s Literature edition.

According to the foreword, the Cree people believe that each person has
a special purpose on earth, and that some of us are given nature spirit
power from “our animal brothers or other nature relatives—such as
the cloud people.” This book tells the story of a young girl who is
taken from her family to live with her Grandfather Bear for a year, so
that she can receive his powers and learn his healing ways. Her parents
look for her desperately throughout the year, and refuse to leave the
camp where they lost her. Finally, Grandfather Bear decides she has
learned enough, and allows her father to find them, sacrificing himself
in the process so that the family will have meat.

Grandfather Bear is a translation of an oral Cree legend told by
Madeline Davis, Sr., a resident of Moberly Lake, B.C. This project is
significant in a number of ways: the author, editorial team,
translators, and illustrator are all women with strong ties to the
Native community in Moberly Lake; it is one of the first books published
by Twin Sisters, a new publishing company devoted to that community; the
protagonist of the story is a young woman who is given, and accepts,
power that she can put to use for her people; and, finally, it’s a
darn good book!

Davis’s simple folk tale resonates with magic and meaningful
symbolism. Grandfather Bear has a magic glove that he throws between his
underground tipi and the outside world for security. When he dies, he
orders that his hands and wrists be cut from his body, with the left
hand (the one with healing power) to be hung on a tree away from the
body. As he teaches the girl, everything they need—the powers,
strength, and even food—flows into them from the outside world. The
language used to describe Grandfather Bear’s act of self-sacrifice is
reminiscent of biblical language describing the resurrection of Christ:
“He told the young girl not to worry about him being killed. He would
be back in four days. He would be alive again.” The story, a metaphor
for self-sacrifice for the good of the people, demonstrates the
importance of balance with, and connection to, nature and its forces.

Cameron’s black-and-white drawings are clear and moving; the cover
illustration of an old man’s face inside a bear inside a bear paw
print is especially powerful. Highly recommended.