Amō's Sapotawan is a book that tells the historical fiction story of a Rocky Cree girl in the mid-1600s with the inspiration that all children are born with four gifts or talents. Written by William Dumas, an esteemed Rocky Cree Storyteller, educator (of twenty-five years), and administrator, he portrays the life of his community through the eyes of the main character and shares his language, Teachings, and Knowledge that he's learned as a member of the Rocky Cree First Nation. William Dumas is also the Cree Language and Culture Coordinator for the Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Education Authority and includes the Rocky Cree Language dialect in this story. Rhian Brynjolson is a visual artist and illustrator who draws in a contemporary and semi-realistic style, as this book depicts. This book includes a glossary of the Rocky Cree words used and is accompanied by romanized pronunciations and definitions.

Other End Matter: Glossary, Maps
Images: Colour photographs, Colour illustrations, b&w illustrations
Contributor Affiliation: Author William Dumas (Rocky Cree), Illustrator Rhian Brynjolson
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools

William Dumas, a Rocky Cree Storyteller, was born in South Indian Lake, Manitoba. For 25 years, he has been an educator and administrator; his passion for Cree language and culture are well aligned with his current position as Cree Language and Culture Coordinator for the Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Education Authority. As the author of The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak series, William knows first-hand the power storytelling has to teach Indigenous youth about where they come from and where they are going.

William Dumas' profile page

Rhian Brynjolson (she/her/hers) is a visual artist, author, book illustrator, and art educator. Rhian was awarded the Canadian Art Teacher of the Year in 2014. She is the author of Teaching Art: a Complete Guide for the Classroom, and has illustrated fifteen children’s books. Rhian has worked with the River on the Run artist collective, making and performing art to raise awareness of environmental concerns affecting the Lake Winnipeg watershed. Rhian lives and works on the edge of Treaty 3 territory, in the boreal forest of eastern Manitoba. Her work is currently exhibited as part of the Virtual Water Gallery https://gwf.usask.ca and at www.rhianbrynjolson.com.

Rhian Brynjolson's profile page

• Joint winner, Manitoba Book Awards
• Long-listed, PMC Indigenous Literature Award

Among American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) Best Books 2022

American Indians in Children's Literature

Among CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens 2023, starred selection of exceptional caliber

CCBC

This is an ambitious, gorgeous production. Illustrations by Rhian Brynjolson are crisp and colorful, perfect for a children’s book. The graphic design combining story and sidebar information is exceptionally well done, including a broad topographical map on the first inside spread to show exactly where we are.

World Comic Book Review

Incredibly rich in detail, historical notes, and culture, P'sim Finds Her Miskanaw and Am?’s Sapotawan are both great introductions to Rocky Cree history and culture as well as gentle, heartwarming stories about finding oneself.

The Library Ladies