illustrated by Michaela Goade
Simply put, this book is a call to action.
Told from the point of view of a young girl who has deep roots with her indigenous tribe, We are water protectors gifts the reader with beautiful illustrations and a strong sense of urgency for encouraging communities to stand together in their efforts to protect the Earth. This book is unique and differs from other environmental justice books in that it channels the voices of those who have often been left out of the narrative. Both Lindstrom and Goade identify as members of indigenous tribes and use their personal experiences, values, and stories to give life to the young girl in this book. Inspired by the conflict that has arisen between capitalist, economy-driven decisions and the rights of indigenous peoples and their possessions (and relationships with the land), the young protagonist of our story exudes a rallying cry for the salvation of our land's clean water.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this book is its genuine authenticity and its culturally responsive foundation. Though rarely addressed, especially in children's and young adolescents' texts, the perspectives that indigenous voices have to offer are crucial to the survival of our world as we know it today. Here, the balance between historic and contemporary perspectives as well as the reinforcement of indigenous voices remind the reader that there are parts of our lives and our histories that we cannot afford to overlooked. This story follows an against the grain perspective that contrasts the American values associated with growth and expansion in the business and economic sectors; in such context, the construction of oil wells and pipelines seems to be necessary measures in order for us to benefit from the natural resources that are at our disposal. However, this book fiercely reminds us of two things: first, that the land we sacrifice for the retrieval of natural resources is not solely ours, and second, that the processes by which we extract more lucrative natural resources puts the most basic, life-giving resources at risk. Enter, our young protagonist, in her pure form speaking on behalf of so many different lives; on one level she represents the voices of "the winged ones, the crawling ones, the four-legged, the two-legged, the plants, trees, rivers, lakes, the Earth" and on another level, she speaks on behalf of her people. She reminds the general reader of the sacrifices others have had to make for the advancement of the American Dream, both historically and currently, while still leaving seeds of hope that there is still time to unravel the harm that has been done and there is still time to save what is left.
against the grain perspective: a form of analysis that encourages the reader to engage with the text in such a way as to scrutinize the beliefs and attitudes that typically go unexamined in a text, drawing attention to the gaps, silences and contradictions that arise between the author's narrative and the generally accepted narrative
Discussion Questions:
How did the story represent controversial stories/narratives/points through symbolism? And how did the story structure contribute to the author's purpose?
How did the references to the native language and stories strengthen and add to the story as a whole?
What details stood out the most as you read the story the first time? the second time?
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