Parfois je suis un renard
By Danielle Daniel
Dans cette introduction enjouée aux animaux totémiques de la tradition anishinaabée, douze enfants s'identifient à différentes créatures comme un renard, un chevreuil, un castor ou un orignal. Les illustrations douces et colorées représentent des enfants portant des masques d'animaux et sont accompagnées de courts textes poétiques.
Published: 2018
Originally written in French
Number of pages: 40
Recommended FSL Programs and Grades
Race/Ethnic/Geographic Information
Author: Indigenous
Characters: Indigenous
Setting: Not mentioned
Notes from a teacher-reader
Popular book in schools.
Written by Indigenous author.
Main character is Indigenous, and exploring her identity as as Indigenous person
Represents joy and excellence: book about sharing feelings and emotions and connection to animals
Note from author that explains about different totem animals
Link from Mandisa: https://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/app/webroot/img/activities/Activite-Parfois-je-suis-un-renard.pdf
Wondering: how to avoid veering into cultural appropriation?
Grade 6-8 vocabulary about animals and their characteristics in relation in Indigeneity
Totem, dodem, spirit animals are different things
Avoid making students say what their totem or spirit animals are
Even young children (in grade 1) can understand that taking on this identity is cultural appropriation by explaining that we can’t take on elements of a culture that isn’t ours
Totem is a Western Indigenous cultural example - doesn’t represent the entire Indigenous experience
Could invite an Elder from your local community to explain how this concept translate in their culture and share their experience