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When we began our search for a Canadian 

written Aboriginal book in the Medicine Hat 

College, Vera Bracken Library we came across a 

summary for a book called The Moccasins.   The 

author of the summary connected the book to 

the beloved Canadian story Love Your Forever 

by Robert Munsch.   All three of us love this 

Robert Munsch classic so we decided to find The 

Moccasins and see if we made that same 

connection.

After reading the book we all agreed it was the 

perfect choice for this project. The illustrations 

are simple but meaningful to both the story 

and the reader, it is fairly short which allows 

for the use in any grade. We did agree 

however, that it would best suit lower to 

middle elementary because they would be 

capable of reading and understanding the story 

themselves. Many students in this age range 

would also be able to relate it to their own 

lives in some way. 

Earl Einarson is part of the Ktunaza First Nations in British 

Columbia. He resides in Vancouver, British Columbia with 

his two sons. Earl Einarson published the book in 2004, The 

Moccasins is the only book he has written to date however, 

he is currently working on a second book. Earl is a man of 

many trades. He is an Aboriginal writer, musician/song 

writer, web developer and educator. He was raised in a non-

Aboriginal foster home where his Aboriginal culture was 

embraced by his foster mother who instilled a love of self 

and culture. Earl’s family moved all throughout British 

Columbia as a child. He is a graduate of BCIT’s New Media 

Design & Web Development program.   The Moccasins is 

based on his personal life story. 

BOOKS

The Moccasins. 2004

He is currently working on a second book but 

the name and description of the book have not 

been released. 

AWARDS

2005 finalist for the Christie Harris Illustrated 

Children’s Literature Prize 

- Julie Flett is a Vancouver based Metis and Cree artist and illustrator

- She incorporates photography, drawing and painting into her work.

- She was born in Toronto and spent most of her life in Western Canada

- Julie began her studies in textile design at the Alberta College of Art. After   

  that she went to the Emily Carr institute of Art and design. 

- She received her Fine Arts Degree from Concordia University in 1997.

- After graduation she returned to Vancouver and worked as a coordinator 

  for a visual communication program for First Nation people. 

-She was involved with a range of organizations that worked specifically 

with 

 women in Vancouver’s downtown eastside

-Julie has a long held interest in folk tales, picture books and trickster 

 stories. 

WORKS

- A Beard So Red: A Story About Rain And Trees And Wind 

  And Life – Chapter book written by Tasnim Nathoo 

- Zoe and the Fawn – Written by Katherine Jameson

- The Mocccasins – Written by Earl Einarson

- Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer: L’alfabet di Michif/ Owls See 

  Clearly at Night: A Mischief Alphabet 

AWARDS

Received:

Canadian Native Arts Foundation Visual Arts Acquisition Program in 

1993

Julie received a medal in the category of multicultural picture book in 

the 2007 Moonbeam Children’s Books Award for her work in Zoe and 

the Fawn

Finalist:

For two British Columbia book prizes in the Christy Harris Illustrated 

Children’s Literature Prize Category for her illustration in The 

Moccasins and Zoe and the Fawn

The story begins with a young Aboriginal boy and his foster 

brother going to bed. The young boy received a pair of 

moccasins from his foster mother which allowed him to 

experience an aspect of his Native culture. The moccasins were 

an important part of the boy’s everyday life. As the boy outgrew 

his moccasins he had to pack them away, his culture stayed with 

him even though the moccasins could not. The boy grew and 

eventually started a family. At the birth of his first child his 

foster mom brought the little boys old moccasins so they could 

be passed on to a new generation. When the boy is old enough 

the father will pass the moccasins on to him, instilling the same 

pride in the Native culture that his foster mother instilled in him. 

This book was based on the authors’ personal experience. 

• The text is black on all white paper- it is a very 

   stark contrast 

• All the text is placed on the left page

• There is a little illustration underneath the words 

   that ties the text into the bigger picture

• The last page has a bigger picture to symbolize 

   the end 

• The gift of the moccasins represent the gift of their 

   heritage 

•     Traditional Inuit and Cree drawings

•     Mythology and folklore influenced her illustrations

•     She uses a variety of mediums: painting, textual, 

    and collages 

•     She favors simplistic artistic style 

•     See attached interview

• Aboriginal clothing varied vastly from tribe to tribe

• A universal element was the moccasin 

• The word moccasin comes from the Algonquian 

• Moccasin patterns were slightly different in nearly 

  every tribe. They could tell what tribe you were from 

  by the design of the shoe

• Some differences in moccasin style are the cut of 

  the moccasin, the extensive bead work, quill work, 

  painted design, some tribes harden raw hide for the 

  soul and others used rabbit fur to align their 

  moccasins. 

• Plains women also wore moccasin boots sometimes, 

  but these were called mukluks and they were the 

  invention of the Inuit

•     Theytus Books is a leading North American publisher of 

    Indigenous voices

•     It is the oldest Indigenous publishing house in Canada

•     It has been in function since 1980

•     It is First Nation owned and operated

•     Located in Syilx Territory on the Pencton Indian Reserve 

    in British Columbia 

•     In Salish “Theytus” means “preserving for the sake of 

    handing down”

•   Their goal is to document Aboriginal cultures and world 

    views through literature

•     Acknowledges support from the Department of Heritage 

    Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts. 

Some other books published by Theytus:

 Chapter books:

 - Broken but Not Dead by Joylene Nowell Butler

 - As I Remember It by Tara Lee Morin 

 Children’s Chapter Books:

 - Caring for me series by Karen W Olsen e.t. all

 - Christmas La Pouchinn by Deborah L Delaronde and 

   Virgina McCoy 

 - Chuck in the City by Jordan Wheeler and Christopher 

   Auchter 

 Picture Books:

 - Dancing With Cranes by Jeannette Armstrong and Ron 

   Hall

 - Eyes, Ears, Nose and Mouth by Karen W Olsen and 

   Leonard George Jr.

 - How The Fox Got His Crossed Legs by James Wedzin  

Works Cited

•     "Authors." Simply Read Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2013. 

<http://www.simplyreadbooks.com/biography.php?bio_id=90>.

•     Coughlan , Marjorie . "Galery- Julie Flett." Papertigers. Eun-Ha Paek, 

n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2013. 

<http://www.papertigers.org/gallery/Julie_Flett/index.html>.

•     Einarson, Earl. The Moccasins. Theytus Books Ltd., 2008. Print. 14 

Mar 2013. 

•     "Earl Einarson Books, Author Biography." Alibris. Books in print, n.d. 

Web. 14 Mar 2013. <http://www.alibris.com/search/books/author/Earl-

Einarson/aid/1449738>.

•     “Moccasin History." Marie Shoes. Marie Shoes, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 

2013. <http://storesonline.com/site/1645168/page/766719>.

•     Web , Mugo, ed. "THeytus Books - About Us ." Theytus Books. 

Theytus Books, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2013. 

<http://www.theytus.com/About-Us>.