• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

Remember the hummingbird's teachings. Remember you are loved.

Kokum warned us to watch out for one another. If we weren't careful, Windigo would eat us. But one night, alone in the darkness, I felt its breath on my neck. Windigo's lies crept into my heart, and I believed them. When we lose connection with others, we lose ourselves, and Windigo's darkness grows and spreads.

In this deeply emotional and beautifully illustrated picture book, the ancestors send a hummingbird to a child lost in Windigo’s darkness. Its teachings of resilience, love and connection bring the child home and remind us that our ancestors are always watching and can help us find our way if we only ask.

This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Anishinaabemowin.

Jennifer Leason self-identifies as Saulteaux–Métis Anishinaabek. Her maternal Indigenous roots are from Duck Bay, Pine Creek First Nation and Camperville, Manitoba; her paternal Ukrainian-Norwegian roots are in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. She is the mother of two children. Jennifer is an advocate for women and for Indigenous communities, and she teaches at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD (2017), an MA (IGS), and a BA in psychology. Jennifer is a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band in Camperville, Manitoba.

Jennifer Leason's profile page

Norman Chartrand is Saulteaux–Métis Anishinaabek. He is Jennifer's great-uncle and the son of Elise Beauchamp and Arthur Jacque (Jimmy) Chartrand. Elise Beauchamp was the daughter of Philoméne Klyne and Jean Beauchamp. Julia Brass was the daughter of Julia McLeod of Pelly and George Brass. Jean Beauchamp was the son of Nancy Chartrand and Joseph Beauchamp. His ancestors come from the Riding Mountain territory in Manitoba.He is a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band in Camperville, Manitoba.

Norman Chartrand's profile page

“The palette moves from light in the beginning to dark tones when the Windigo has her, then back to lighter tones as she escapes. A stunning book.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

“Teaches self-resilience, love, and connection [and] integrates beautiful illustrations in an Indigenous style. Highly recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials