This winter, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press published its first children’s coloring book series, Ojibwe Traditions.
The four books in the series contain pictures to color, stories, vocabulary, and often also include activities like word scrambles and mazes, to help kids learn more about Wisconsin’s American Indian — and specifically Ojibwe — culture and traditions. Each book focuses on a different aspect of Ojibwe life and traditions, including The Powwow, Storytelling, The Sugarbush, and Wild Ricing.
The Northland College Indigenous Cultures Center team developed the content and produced the drawings for the series in order to engage and teach the traditions of the Ojibwe people. The idea for the series was sparked by a comment from a college trustee who recognized the resurgence of interest in detailed coloring books for kids/adults, and the way they can be used for outreach education.
As a recent graduate of Northland College and a member of the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, writer and illustrator Cassie Brown produced these informative books.
The series is compliant with Wisconsin Act 31, which directs public schools to teach students about the history and culture of Wisconsin’s American Indian nations.
The books will be featured in March at Northland College as part of the Indigenous Cultures Awareness Month. Author events are being planned for 2019 in partnership with Northland College and the Apostle Island Booksellers in Bayfield. Check here for event updates in the new year.
Find them through your favorite bookseller or by visiting www.wisconsinhistory.org/shop