Book details
The Elders Are Watching
Description
As Native elders have advised from time immemorial, this is a gentle plea to respect the natural environment.When the award-winning poet David Bouchard first saw the artwork of First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers, he was struck by Vickers' reverence for nature, the vibrancy of his colors, and his perceptive understanding of Canada's rugged West Coast. He saw in Vickers' images the perfect complement to his own lyrical, thoughtful poetry. They collaborated on the original edition of The Elders Are Watching, which has delighted more than 100,000 readers in four languages. Bouchard says, "Both Roy and I share similar dreams for our children. Through this book, we hope that others will come to share these dreams and together work toward correcting some of the mistakes of the past."In this new edition, their vision is as fresh and relevant today as it was when the book was first published. A plea to respect the natural treasures of our environment and a message of concern from aboriginal leaders of the past to the people of the new millennium, The Elder Are Watching has both a timelessness and an urgency that must be heard.
Age
9-12
Text complexity
intermediate
Length
56 pages
Why to read
- Cultural Insight: 'The Elders Are Watching' by David Bouchard provides readers with a profound understanding of Indigenous wisdom and traditions, offering a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and the natural world.
- Artistic Merit: The book is beautifully illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers, a renowned Indigenous artist. His artwork complements the poetic text, making the book a visual as well as a literary treat.
- Environmental Message: Through its narrative, the book conveys a powerful message about the importance of respecting and preserving the environment, a topic that is increasingly relevant in today's world.
- Intergenerational Wisdom: The book emphasizes the significance of elders in Indigenous communities and the value of passing down knowledge from one generation to the next, encouraging readers to reflect on their own connections with their ancestors and heritage.