On the Trapline

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.

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.

About the Authors

DAVID A. ROBERTSON’s books include the Governor General Literary Award—winning When We Were Alone (McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist, Indigenous Literature Award finalist), Will I See? (Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award, Graphic Novel Category), the YA novel Strangers (Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction), and the adult novel The Evolution of Alice (Burt Award for First Nations, Métis, Inuit Literature finalist). David also won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer in 2015. David educates as well as entertains through his writings about Indigenous Peoples, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg.

JULIE FLETT is a Cree-Métis author, illustrator and artist. She has received many awards including the 2017 Governor General Literary Award for her work on When We Were Alone by David Robertson (High Water Press), the 2016 American Indian Library Association Award for Best Picture Book for Little You by Richard Van Camp, and she is the three-time recipient of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Award for Owls See Clearly at Night; A Michif Alphabet by Julie Flett, Dolphin SOS by Roy Miki and Slavia Miki and My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith. Her own Wild Berries was featured in The New York Times and included among Kirkus's Best Children's Books of 2013. Wild Berries was also chosen as Canada's First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014-2015.