When is a dream more than a dream? When it is a medicine dream. When is a story more than a story? When it enlightens, heals, offers hope, and inspires. Lisa Boivin, a Dene bioethicist, shares the wisdom of being in tune with our dreams, family, and the natural world. This soulful story shows how a grandfather’s teachings help his granddaughter live a good life after he is gone. The grandfather imparts wisdom he has learned from bear, hawk, caribou, and wolf in his medicine dreams. These animals manifest character traits such as generosity, respect, curiosity, independence, belief in oneself, persistence, and independence. These teachings allow his granddaughter to adapt to living without her grandfather’s physical presence, and to live a good life. This resource belongs in every library; it is a beautiful read-aloud, and can foster discussion about death and how to live a good life.

48 pp., 9 × 9", colour illustrations

Lisa Boivin (Deninu Kue First Nation)

Source: Association of Book Publishers of BC - Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools (2021-2022)

Lisa Boivin is a member of the Deninu Kue First Nation and the author/artist of two illustrated books, We Dream Medicine Dreams (shortlisted for the 2022 Rocky Mountain Book Award) and I Will See You Again (AICL's Best Books of 2020, nominated for First Nation Communities READ Award). She is an interdisciplinary artist and a PhD candidate at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. Lisa uses images as a pedagogical tool to bridge gaps between medical ethics and aspects of Indigenous cultures and worldviews. She is writing and collaging an arts-based thesis that addresses the colonial barriers that Indigenous patients navigate in the current healthcare system. Lisa strives to humanize clinical medicine as she situates her art in the Indigenous continuum of passing knowledge through images. @redbioethics

Lisa Boivin's profile page

• Short-listed, Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Awards, Children’s Illustration
• Short-listed, Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year
• Long-listed, First Nations Communities READ
• Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award
• Short-listed, Indigenous Voices Awards, Published Graphic Novels, Comics, and Illustrated Books
• Winner, Co-winner of the First Nation Communities READ PMC Indigenous Literature Award, Children’s Category

Among OLA Best Bets Top Ten, Junior Picture Book

OLA Best Bets

A moving and insightful picture book honouring the enduring relationship between a child and her grandfather. Boivin's exquisite, digitally created collages are luxuriantly alive with colour, pattern, and texture.

Quill & Quire, a starred review

We Dream Medicine Dreams is a beautiful depiction of Indigenous kinship and healing. It reminds us of how our cultural teachings and relationships with family and the land are acts of everyday ceremony and revitalization. The vivid collages that illustrate the book remind us of the beauty and wellbeing to be found in the natural world and how these elements contrast with the fear and discomfort that can be felt in Western health care systems. This is a story of how our holistic ways of knowing bring us comfort in times of grief and challenge and keep us forever connected to those we love.

Jaime Cidro, Canada Research Chair in Health and Culture, University of Winnipeg

The illustrations are a bright and colourful collage, full of depth. texture and pattern. The illustrations not only help serve to tell the story, but also demonstrate the warmth and beauty in nature, connection, and the medicine all around us. Highly recommended for home and public libraries.

Canadian Children's Book News

In We Dream Medicine Dreams, Lisa Boivin uses her powerful words and pictures to show us natural laws and teachings. These teachings about the medicine power of dreams, family, loss, and connection resonate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. In sharing these teachings with us, Lisa has given all those that read her book a great gift that allows the ancestors to speak with our children. This little book full of stories and teachings, which are the core of who we are, will bring us back to our ancestral selves. I encourage everyone, young and old, to spend an evening with this charming masterpiece – you will not regret it.

The Honourable Yvonne Boyer, J.D., L.L.M., L.L.D.

I highly recommend this book. Not only did I love the incredible illustrations, which would definitely appeal to children, I also loved how this gentle story would be a great starting point when talking to children in a classroom about family loss, death and grief. In social studies, students can also use the book as a starting point when exploring animal teachings and the power of dreams in Indigenous cultures. We Dream Medicine Dreams would be a wonderful addition to a classroom library or to use as a read aloud.

ETFO Voice

Among USBBY 2022 Outstanding International Books List

USBBY

How we deal with loss, and the personal, cultural, and community ways we do that, is an urgent issue. Lisa Boivin's work is as soulful and compelling as it is beautiful!

Dr. Allison Crawford

Boivin’s thoughtful story is exquisitely complemented by stunning collage illustrations.

The Globe and Mail