The Winter We Danced is a vivid collection of writing, poetry, lyrics, art and images from the many diverse voices that make up the past, present, and future of the Idle No More movement. Calling for pathways into healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities while drawing on a wide-ranging body of narratives, journalism, editorials and creative pieces, this collection consolidates some of the most powerful, creative and insightful moments from the winter we danced and gestures towards next steps in an on-going movement for justice and Indigenous self-determination.

The Kino-nda-niimi Collective is a group of Indigenous writers, artists, editors, curators and allies. Lead editors for The Winter We Danced include Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Leanne Simpson, Tanya Kappo, Wanda Nanibush and Hayden King who--along with many colleagues, relatives, friends, and organizations--assembled this collection together over the summer and fall of 2013.

The Kino-nda-niimi Collective's profile page

The Winter We Danced reveals the full depth and breadth of Idle No More, its traditional roots and future potential - reading, at times, like prophecy.This ambitious collection is brilliantly structured as a round dance; we are initiated in a section titled "First Beats." ...the more than 75 contributors represented here--including former Olympians and judges, journalists and Chiefs, musicians and former gang leaders--are dazzlingly diverse. We step lightly from poems to manifestos to blog posts to editorials. This free-flowing yet directed quality mirrors the round dances that invaded malls across North America the winter of 2012-13, challenging the rigid artifice around them. With each text, the significance of the format builds, and is compounded by stunning artwork.--Aparna Sanyal, The Globe and Mail

This collection is an important archive of all the effort toward Indigenous freedom that has been achieved so far and an impassioned vision of a resilient Indigenous future. It comes at a crucial moment to provide reflection and stoke the fires of further action. Indeed, simply purchasing the book helps further important work as all proceeds from The Winter We Danced go to the Native Youth Sexual Health Network.--Lindsey Cornum, Rabble.ca

Manitoba's Kino-nda-niimi Collective has created an invaluable resource with the recently-published book, (em>The Winter We Danced (ARP books, Winnipeg). This is a treasure trove of photos, poems, stories and essays, in all about 120 entries that capture the emotions and ideas of indigenous pride and resistance that fuel the Idle No More movement.--Valerie Lannon, socialist.ca