We Are Water Protectors Book Review by Carole Lindstrom

Written by Carole Lindstrom

Illustrated by Michaela Goode

Published by Roaring Book Press in 2020

ISBN 978-1250203557

Plot Summary: This book starts out with a grandmother telling her granddaughter that water is the first medicine. The girl learns that she comes from water and that water is the source of life. It delves into the story that there is a black snake that is going to come and destroy the land which is a metaphor for the oil pipelines that are built through tribal lands. The girl rallies her people to get rid of the black snake in order to protect mother earth and the creatures that inhabit it. The girl is successful in organizing her people to fight the thing that is destroying their land. 

Analysis: This book and it's illustrations are very poignant as it tells the story through word repetition and beautiful illustrations that show that the people are there to band together and fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The watercolors that are used as well as the full illustrations add to the message that water is important and the blue hues in the background illustrations draw the reader's eye into the fact that water is the main topic of this book. The author uses vivid imagery to help the reader understand that this is a main issue that is affecting her tribe. 

Reviews: Kirkus Book Review

In this tribute to Native resilience, Indigenous author-and-illustrator team Lindstrom and Goade invite readers to stand up for environmental justice.

“Water is the first medicine,” a young, unnamed protagonist reflects as she wades into a river with her grandmother. “We come from water.” Stunning illustrations, rich in symbolism from the creators’ respective Ojibwe and Tlingit/Haida lineages, bring the dark-haired, brown-skinned child’s narrative to life as she recounts an Anishinaabe prophecy: One day, a “black snake” will terrorize her community and threaten water, animals, and land. “Now the black snake is here,” the narrator proclaims, connecting the legend to the present-day threat of oil pipelines being built on Native lands. Though its image is fearsome, younger audiences aren’t likely to be frightened due to Goade’s vibrant, uplifting focus on collective power. Awash in brilliant colors and atmospheric studies of light, the girl emphasizes the importance of protecting “those who cannot fight for themselves” and understanding that on Earth, “we are all related.” Themes of ancestry, community responsibility, and shared inheritance run throughout. Where the brave protagonist is depicted alongside her community, the illustrations feature people of all ages, skin tones, and clothing styles. Lindstrom’s powerful message includes non-Native and Native readers alike: “We are stewards of the Earth. We are water protectors.”

An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected planet. (author’s note, glossary, illustrator’s note, Water Protector pledge) (Picture book. 5-12)

Book Page: 

A young indigenous girl learns the importance of water from her elders, then unites with her community and its supporters to defend it in Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade’s inspiring new picture book, We Are Water Protectors.

The unnamed girl’s grandmother teaches her that water is sacred, “the first medicine” that nourishes human life both in the womb and on Mother Earth. The girl’s community believes in a prophecy about a black snake that will threaten the water. Illustrator Goade depicts the snake with a series of angular turns that call to mind the oil pipelines which have been the subject of protests in recent years; the snake’s forked red tongue and red eyes are a menacing touch. The girl strikes powerful poses and holds hands with others to stand against the snake. Together, the communities confront the snake, fighting it on behalf of all the lives that depend on the water.

Throughout the book, Lindstrom, who is Anishinabe/Metis and tribally enrolled with the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, employs a powerful refrain that asserts the continued presence and ongoing commitment of indigenous peoples: “We stand with our songs and our drums. We are still here.” Her prose is powerful, timely and mesmerizing in its lyricism. Goade, who is an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, employs deep blues, purples and aquamarines to create enchanting waterscapes that envelope human figures whose skin she represents in a variety of hues. She weaves symbols from Ojibwe culture into the vibrant scenes, which blend images of people, animals and nature together into a striking and precious tapestry of interdependent life. It all adds up to a gorgeous and empowering picture book with an urgent environmental plea.

Connections: 

Further Reading- The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton Benai

Dakota Access Pipeline Information: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/plains-treaties/dapl