The Gabriel Dumont Institute has announced the publication of a new book.
The Diamond Willow Walking Stick is a traditional Metis story about generosity.
The book’s author, Leah Dorion, says much of the book was inspired by the late Jim Brady.
Dorion says the well-known elder actually helped raise her Dad and lived a life of generosity, something she hopes to pass along in the new book:
“So it’s the stories from the perspective of a little Metis boy being raised by his grandparents, and by watching his grandparents give away things and participate in the giveaways, in the Metis community and culture, he learns about giving.”
The book also contains a chart on the uses of the willow tree and contains illustrations by Norman Fleury.