The Tree by the Woodpile: And Other Dene Spirit of Nature Tales

“With the passing of many of our Elders, the telling of these stories becomes more valuable than ever.” — Raymond Yakeleya

The Tree by the Woodpile is a story about a ?First Nations boy who is told an enchanting tale by his grandmother about how an old tree by the woodpile provides food and shelter for the birds and animals of the North. Other stories in the book are “The Wolf,” and “The Mountain, the Wind, and the Wildflowers.” The stories are suffused with Newet'sine, the Creator and Spirit of Nature, who brings a message of how we must to cherish our land. The book, written in English and Dene for middle-grade children, ages 7 to 12, supports the 'First Peoples Principles of Learning,' particularly recognizing the role of Indigenous knowledge and learning embedded in memory, history, and story.