Oh how I have been waiting for this book as soon as I heard David A. Robertson and Julie Flett were teaming up for another picture book. We ADORE When We Were Alone and just knew On The Trapline would be equally as beautiful. Thrillingly, it is a moving story about a grandfather and grandson who go on a trip to visit Moshom’s (grandfather) trapline where he grew up and learned as a child. On their way they explore all the sights and sounds of the community. We also learn about how things were back when Moshom was a boy. How things on the trapline and in the community are so different from the city where Moshom and his grandson now live.

The story is perfectly measured. The ebb and flow of each section of the story, each recalled childhood memory by Moshom, ends with the Swampy Cree word associated with the memory: words like kīwēw (he goes home) and minwasin (beautiful). I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the back as I know some authors like to include them while others don’t. Publishers are recognizing the value of including Indigenous languages in stories written by Indigenous Peoples. I appreciate being able to share the true and accurate pronunciations of the words if I’m reading at home to my family or with students at school. Swampy Cree is such a beautiful language I would hate to muddle up the pronunciations. It’s a story of joy and of going home. An inter generational story of much significance. It is just as important for children to have books written about the beauty of life, the importance of Elders and learning about connections as it is to ensure they are informed of the trauma of the past. 

Julie Flett’s illustrations are impactful yet simple and soothing. She is not trying to make giant, colourful, noisy splashes of colour. Her muted tones and light features bring a dreamy quality to the story and add serenity and slowness reminiscent of rural living. Readers will be enthralled and you will barely be able to hear a pin drop as you share this story.

For the grownups, I have had the pleasure to listen to David A. Robertson speak on many different occasions thanks to the miracle of virtual literary festivals (one of the good things to come out of the pandemic) and I know this story was inspired by his trip to his father’s trapline back in 2018. He also speaks of it in his author notes at the end of the book. You should definitely read Black Water: family, legacy and blood memory, David A. Robertson’s memoir about his relationship with his father and his relationship to his Cree identity as well as listen to his award winning podcast Kīwew. If you do On The Trapline will take on a whole other meaning for you.

Kudos to Tundra Books for bringing together these two incredible Cree creators to gift us another beautiful story to celebrate Indigenous life past and present. To preserve language, to remind young Cree people about their history and to show everyone the importance of having these stories in the hands of young readers today.