Will I love We Are Water Protectors?

“The river’s rhythm runs through my veins. Runs through my people’s veins.” This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book about the Indigenous-led movement to protect water as a sacred resource deserves all the accolades it has received. In a clear and powerful voice, Lindstrom’s young narrator reflects on the critical importance of water to her community, its spiritual significance, and the need to come together and stand up against an oil pipeline that threatens it.

I love how the book uses abstract language and imagery to tell a sweeping story of environmental justice and resistance that starts with one community’s fight to… show more.

I love this book because its title reflects how I feel about water: protective. Young Nokomis, a girl of the indigenous Ojibwe people, learns that humans are born of water, and it is sacred. She says that the “river’s rhythm runs through my veins.” I feel the same way.

Finding ways to protect it is a large undertaking, but there are simple ways too. Praying, especially in song, is one. Nokomis reminds us that all of us, humans, animals, and elements, are interconnected. I agree with this sentiment: We Are One. Her prayer is mine. We must stand strong and… show more.

I love the passion in this book.

Native Americans, as a people group, respected the land and protected its resources. Together, like one big family, I can also participate in keeping the land where I live safe and thriving for generations to come. It’s hard work, an uphill climb, but worth every drop of sweat and step.

Water is essential to all of us, not just Native peoples, but all people, plants, animals, and all life on our planet. This book with its gorgeous illustrations celebrates Indigenous-led movements to protect water and preserve our future. It's a call to action that urges each one of us, no matter how young, to champion justice for the environment. Lindstrom's words flow like water and carry us to the conclusion that there is hope if we all accept responsibility for the caretaking of our planet. 

For years, I’ve felt passionate about supporting Indigenous-led movements to protect their communities, their cultures, and the environment—in particular, movements that address the threat of oil pollution. So, I was thrilled to read this gorgeous and inspiring picture book, written and illustrated by two Indigenous women, that focuses on the life-giving value of water and the need to protect it. The poetic text incorporates Native Nations’ spiritual knowledge and wise stories passed down through generations, warning against “the black snake”—oil pipelines— that threaten the sacred water. We see how movements like Standing Rock have united hundreds of Indigenous groups globally… show more.

We Are Water Protectors celebrates the power and determination of a child who is firmly rooted within both her family and the larger community. Written and illustrated by Indigenous creators, the rich, flowing watercolor illustrations pull me in and hold me still, even though the subject matter is upsetting at times. How can we face the pollution of water that our reliance on fossil fuels has caused? There is no simple answer. I found comfort in the beautiful community and intergenerational connections that buffer the fear and sadness of such a task. These connections remind us that it is only… show more.

This poetic, richly illustrated picture book was inspired by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and all Indigenous Nations’ fight for the land and water. I love the way that author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade portray the young water protector in this story—as a girl who is fiercely determined to rally her people together, standing up for the importance of clean water. As the author’s note says, “This is not just a Native American issue; this is a humanitarian issue.” When the main character says, “Take courage!” I hope all readers feel inspired to become “stewards of the… show more.

This excerpt from We Are Water Protectors says it all: 

“We fight for those who cannot fight for themselves…

We are all related…

We are stewards of the earth…”

This beautiful book not only inspires readers to speak up for our world; it reminds us we are all connected. I can see teachers everywhere sharing it to remind students why their stewardship is so important.