James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw’s son, Jack, was his inspiration for writing Wisdom Weavers. Photos: Chris Emeott
James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw’s children’s book teaches Ojibwe to kids.
After 25 years working as an Ojibwe educator and consultant, James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw recently published his first children’s book, Wisdom Weavers.
“The inspiration to write a children’s book was the ability to share the Ojibwe language with a new audience,” he says. Kaagegaabaw, who lives in Apple Valley, has previously published The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings, a book that guides readers to the idea of “the good life.”
In Wisdom Weavers, Kaagegaabaw—a well-known international speaker, digital creator (You might recognize him from his Ojibwe word of the day series on Instagram and TikTok.), educator and author—narrates the day in the life of an Ojibwe family, teaching Ojibwe concepts and vocabulary to readers. In total, the story introduces 73 Ojibwe words and phrases with QR codes that link to recordings of each.
Wisdom Weavers follows a mixed Ojibwe child, inspired by Kaagegaabaw’s son, throughout his day. “He was the main reason I took on the project,” Kaagegaabaw says. “It’s based on all true stories of my son and I.” Kaagegaabaw, who grew up in north central Minnesota, is a member of the Turtle Clan and a descendant of Turtle Mountain.
The number four is important from an Ojibwe perspective and comes up throughout the book. “The story begins with the four times of day. Dawn, midday, evening and nighttime,” Kaagegaabaw says. “Dawn is waking up and getting ready; midday and evening are going out and harvesting willow and putting the dream catcher together; nighttime is going to sleep and dreaming.” Readers get the chance to learn everyday Ojibwe vocabulary alongside cultural concepts.
“When children’s stories are told very well, they can get a lot of information across to a diverse audience,” Kaagegaabaw says. “There were these cultural things that I wanted to embed in the book. Dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe people, so I had this chance to share more about them with kids who may have seen dream catchers and wondered about it.”
Wisdom Weavers is illustrated by Marcus Trujillo, a tribal member with the Pueblo of Laguna in affiliation with the Village of Paraje. “This brilliant illustrator documented a very special time in our lives,” Kaagegaabaw says.
Kids have the innate ability to connect with what’s familiar while processing new information. Kaagegaabaw recently carried out an international book tour for Wisdom Weavers and The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings. “I just read it to an auditorium filled with pre-K through third graders, and the one that was a hit with them was the main character learning about a dream catcher and then saying, ‘Cool, what’s for breakfast?,’” he says.
Kaagegaabaw is also active on social media, sharing his Ojibwe word of the day series that relates to the time of year, the day’s weather, natural phenomena and current events. “People have shared that they sit with their children and go over the word of the day, and it’s a moment to learn together,” he says. “For people my mother’s age, who went to boarding and residential schools, it’s an opportunity to learn at their own pace. As an educator, to provide people with that opportunity really compels me and brings me joy.”
Wisdom Weavers is available for purchase online or in store at Birchbark Books (2115 W. 21st St., Mpls.; birchbarkbooks.com).
James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw
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