Culture

This book invites you to think about your place in the world. In Who Am I? a young girl asks her mother a big question, and her mother answers with beautiful words that compare the girl to the wind, the fire, the eagle, and more. The story teaches us that everything on Earth is connected — people, animals, plants, water, and the sky. The pictures show a Native American family and remind us that these ideas come from Native American traditions, but they also remind us that we are all connected to each other, no matter who we are. Reading this book is important because it helps us see that caring for the earth and for one another makes the world a better place for everyone. As you read, think about how you might answer the question, ‘Who am I?’ and what you might be compared to.

In this video, you will hear Bill May and Tom Goldtooth share a story about Red Lake in northern Minnesota. The Anishinabe people depend on the lake for food and for their way of life. They teach their families to respect the lake and take care of it so it can keep taking care of them. This video is important because it helps us understand how Native American people see the land and water as living things that deserve respect. It reminds us that we also have a responsibility to care for the earth.