“Kiskisiw means 'he remembers.’” A young Cree boy leaves the city and travels north by plane with his grandfather to see the trapline where Moshom spent the early years of his life. They land near a small Cree community, and the boy asks, “Is this your trapline?” “No,” Moshom replies, “This is where we lived after we left the trapline.” His grandfather shares memories of life in this community, where the houses were close together and the family all slept in one room during the winter to keep warm. As they rest on the banks of a river, Moshom recalls his school days; he had to learn English and could only speak his own language, Swampy Cree, in secret. They board a motor boat and travel even further north, where they finally reach the trapline. Moshom talks more about his life there: His family lived in a tent and trapped muskrats, both for food and to sell their pelts so that they could buy things like flour, tea, sugar, and lard. After some quiet time together on the trapline and a little fishing, the two head for home. Now both grandfather and grandson have memories of the trapline. Flett’s quiet paintings strike the perfect tone for Robertson’s evocative text, which introduces one word or phrase in Swampy Cree on each page, quietly underscoring the importance of passing on the language from one generation to the next. (Ages 4-8)

A picture book celebrating Indigenous culture and traditions. The Governor General Award--winning team behind When We Were Alone shares a story that honors our connections to our past and our grandfathers and fathers.

WINNER OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD

A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern journey, the child repeatedly asks his grandfather, "Is this your trapline?" Along the way, the boy finds himself imagining what life was like two generations ago -- a life that appears to be both different from and similar to his life now. This is a heartfelt story about memory, imagination and intergenerational connection that perfectly captures the experience of a young child's wonder as he is introduced to places and stories that hold meaning for his family.