A poem by the renowned Ojibway author Richard Wagamese is beautifully transformed into a picture book by the talented Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Thoughtful, healing, and filled with hope, Canada: We Are the Story showcases the incredible power of lasting identity and a sense of belonging.

“Listen. Can you hear the voices of the Old Ones speaking to you in a language you’ve forgotten?”
An Indigenous child faces a school assignment that prompts, “What makes you proud to be Canadian?” In search of the answer, they draw upon the strength of their ancestors. The comforting presence of their ancestors serves as a reminder that we are all in this together, just as we have always been – “every soul that has fallen head over heels in love with the spell of this country.”
This impactful and timeless poem by Richard Wagamese is illustrated through the perspective of an Indigenous child, brought to life by the enchanting artwork of Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. As the poem resonates with a new generation of Indigenous children, it invites everyone to honour the past, discover belonging in the present, and envision a future in this land now known as Canada.

About the Author

Richard Wagamese was a celebrated Ojibway author hailing from Wabaseemoong First Nation in northwestern Ontario, Canada. His popular novels include Indian Horse, which was a finalist for Canada Reads, won the first-ever Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, and was adapted into a feature film; as well as Medicine Walk. He also penned several highly regarded memoirs, such as For Joshua; One Native Life and One Story, One Song, which earned the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature; along with a collection of personal essays, Embers, which was honoured with the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award. Richard received numerous accolades, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Media and Communications, the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize, the Canada Reads People’s Choice Award, and the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award. Sadly, Richard passed away on March 10, 2017, in Kamloops, BC.

Just the Facts

By Richard Wagamese & Illustrated by
Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Published by Tundra Books
For ages 5-9
40 pages $24.99 Hardcover
Available on amazon.ca and Indigo/Chapters
Released on March 17, 2026

Other books by Richard Wagamese

One Drum
Keeper’n Me
Starlight: A Novel
Embers