Who Am I?

By: Maria DesJarlait

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Synopsis: Who Am I? tells the story of Makwa, a young Indigenous boy whose spiritual name means &‘bear&’ in Ojibwe. Torn between his traditional teachings and the modern life of a typical American kid, Makwa loves basketball and video games. However, his grandfather challenges him with a profound question: how does he plan to honor and give back to his people and ancestors who fought for their survival?Makwa embarks on a journey of self-discovery, exploring whether his true calling is to be a dancer like his cousins. Despite examining various styles, he doesn&’t feel the pull. Without his father around since infancy, Makwa turns to his grandfather for guidance. Through the rituals of leaving a tobacco offering and smudging, he seeks the Creator&’s help to find his path.Who is Makwa? Dive into his heartfelt journey to uncover his identity and purpose.This book will have some of the words such as &‘grass dance,&’ &‘traditional dancer,&’ and &‘fancy dancer&’ in Arikara and Ojibwe at the bottom of the pages.