In 2010 I had the privilege of visiting the First Nations community of Dettah, NWT. The students at Kaw Tay Whee school gave me a copy of a book they had created called Walking In Dettah. Each student created a page describing what you might see in each month of the year in Dettah . The words are written in English and Wılıı̀deh, the language of the Yellowknives Dene. The stunning illustrations were created with plasticine. I treasure the book and have shared it in many classrooms over the years. My short time in Dettah made a lasting impression and continues to influence my work.
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- Walking in Dettah book cover
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- Walking in Dettah illustration
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- Walking in Dettah back cover
This spring I learned that Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Windsor would be visiting Dettah. It brought back happy memories – and I was a little jealous! To my delight, Lea Lamoureux, principal at Kaw Tay Whee contacted me to say that students had chosen some books as a gift for Camilla and my book Picture a Tree would be one of them, along with Yellowknife author Lana de Bastiani’s The Fox and My Boot, illustrated by Janet Pacey, The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, and of course the beautiful Walking in Dettah.
Most of the teachers at Kaw Tay Whee School are not Indigenous, but the vast majority of the students, parents and grandparents are. Students taught Camilla a little Wılıı̀deh.
“I think the fact that they had the opportunity to show, talk, and demonstrate – share important pieces of their culture at the school, where they were comfortable – it felt like a meaningful experience to me,” said Lamoureux.
“Putting that out into the world was important, and I think it was important for the students to feel that their identity was important. Some of the kids wore their orange shirts.” You can read more about the royal visit to Dettah here.
Stories connect us across time and place. I am always moved by the friendships and connections that continue through books, art, and reading. I raise my Kaw Tay Whee mug of tea to that! (pinky out for the Duchess!).