THUNDER BAY — Together, the Anishinabek Nation and Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) launched Lynda Banning and Lyne Soramaki’s new book, Migizi and Giniw’s Important Journey: Niish Migizi Bimisewin on Wednesday.
This story takes place on the traditional territory of Fort William First Nation and Anishinabek Nation. It follows the journey of a bald eagle and a golden eagle who venture off on a four-day journey to find out why little animals in in the Land of Nanabijou are getting sick.
“Migizi is the bald eagle and represents Lynda and Anishinabek Nation. Giniw is the golden eagle and represents myself and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. It represents the partnership that we've had together,” said Lyne Soramaki, co-author and public health nurse with TBDHU.
“You'll hear about Migizi and Giniw’s important journey that takes place on Anemki Wajiwi, the land in Nanabijou,” Soramaki added.
Lynda Banning, co-author and FASD Regional Program Worker with Anishinabek Nation, said she and Lyne have been working together for 15 years.
“We have gathered a lot of stories and had some interesting experiences and what I like to call magical work together – experiences. We thought that after all of these years and all of the work that we had done, it was time for us to come up with a resource that would help other people carry on the work. That was the reasoning for starting it, but it took a life of its own. It just went to a direction that we hadn't really anticipated. We had started out writing something that ended up being geared to our children,” Banning said.
The book is intended for intermediate readers in Grades 4 to 7, but anyone can enjoy it, Soramaki said.
The book had several contributors, including Elders who helped approve the story; First Nations and community groups that provided the backdrop to the story and inspired the fictional characters; and individuals who helped review and provide input during the writing process.
The book is available online.
