BOOK ONE OF THE MISEWA SAGA
The BARREN GROUNDS
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and their new home -- until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them.
Comprehension
Start Here
Journal
Writing prompt:
In each module, you will be invited to write some of your thoughts related to the story. You will be given writing prompts… feel free to use these, or write about any other thoughts or connections that came up for you while reading. You can use your own notebook as a journal OR print this journal booklet to fill in as you go.
Before you dive into Barren Grounds: after watching the episode, what do you think David Robertson means when he describes “being in care” and “being in touch with your culture”?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 1 - 5 THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 1
Before you crack open “The Barren Grounds”, watch Ainara’s review of Barren Grounds, and then travel with her to meet author, David A. Robertson.
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
In each module, you will be invited to spend time exploring some of the ideas introduced in the book. Make sure you check out the links in this section to discover more interesting, cool, and fun stuff!
Get Creative
The Story Map
While reading this book, we invite you to create a progressive STORY MAP. This is a map of the story setting, but it is more than that. It also shows the paths that the characters take through the story. Each week we’ll add more details and extend the paths to follow the action of the story. Have you ever made anything like this?
Here’s a few examples [examples]. We need to make sure we leave space for all of the action coming up, so we’ve created a template for you to start with. You’re welcome to use this template (print it out and add details as we go) or create your own from a blank sheet of paper.
StoryMap PDF download
Introduction
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Comprehension
START HERE
Journal
Writing prompt:
How would you describe the relationship between Morgan and Eli? How do you think they feel about each other?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 6 - 9 THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 2
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
Info about Cree Nation in Manitoba
Info about foster families
Get Creative
Are you ready to start your STORY MAP?
If you don’t know what this is, go back to the INTRODUCTION section to find out what this is all about. Come back here when you have your paper ready to start.
To begin, you should know that this story takes place in two worlds: Eli & Morgan’s home in Manitoba, and a fantasy land accessed through a portal. In this module, we are going to start with Eli & Morgan’s home world [upper/lower left/right of sheet].
Choose a colour to represent each of them and draw a circle in this space (this will show where these characters start in the story). In each circle, draw something to represent each of them and draw it in the circles. It could be what you think they look like, or an object that you think represents something about them. Add as much or as little detail as you like. You can also surround the ‘home’ space with any other story details. Maybe you want to add Katie and James, or Emily, or… *note: by the end of the book, you will have added six different coloured character lines. You might want to choose your six colours now.
StoryMap PDF download
Module One
Chapters 1-5 - Life in a foster home
Comprehension
START HERE
Something strange happens when Eli sketches in the attic. Try sketching each of the following scenes on this sketch pad. You can take a screenshot of each one, and then refresh the screen to draw the next one:
Katie & James bring home takeout food from an Indigenous restaurant. They also give Morgan a gift of Manitoba Mukluks. Draw what you think these foods and Mukluks look like.
Morgan gets angry and hides in the attic. She has found a secret room by cutting away the paint from a doorframe and pushing it open to a smaller room. Eli joins her. Draw a picture of the two of them in the attic.
Eli shows Morgan a picture of a fisher, walking upright, in a blizzard. Can you draw this?
The picture magically comes to life until Eli rips it from the wall. Later in bed, Morgan awakes to realize that Eli has brought the picture back to life and has travelled through it. There is cold wind and snow blowing into the attic. What does this scene look like to you?
Journal
Writing prompt:
Why did Morgan get so upset? Are Katie and James guilty of appropriation, or are they just trying to help Morgan appreciate her Cree culture?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 10 - 14 THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 3
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
Intro to some first-nations traditions
Get Creative
The portal is opened!
Decorate the portal on your STORY MAP. Start a line from Morgan’s circle going to the opening of the portal, and a line from Eli’s circle going through the portal (but not too far, we don’t know where he’s gone yet!). Be sure to use the same line colors that match your starting circles.
StoryMap PDF download
Module Two
Chapters 6-9 - Discovery
DRAW HERE
Comprehension
START HERE
Journal
Writing prompt:
What are Morgan and Eli going through and how is their relationship changing?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 15 - 19 THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 4
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
The Good Words
Get Creative
Misewa
On your STORY MAP, draw a representation of Misewa. The text describes seven thatched longhouses in a circle surrounding a hut. Add any other details from the story. Extend the paths of Morgan and Eli from the portal, to the village of Misewa, through the forest to the south, across a log bridge, to the camp and to Ochek’s trapline. Ochek joins them from Misewa, so we need a circle in a different colour to show where he enters the story (he rescues Morgan partway between the portal and Misewa). Add an image to represent Ochek in his circle. Extend a line for Ochek to show that he travels with Morgan and Eli to the trapline. We are also introduced to Arik, the squirrel. Add a circle for Arik in a fourth colour where they join the story (on the trapline), and draw an image to represent them. Add any other details you like!
StoryMap PDF download
Module THREE
Chapters 10-14 - Arrival in the Barren Lands
Comprehension
START HERE
Journal
Writing prompt:
What do you think each of these Misewa animal characters represent?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 20 - 25 THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 5
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
More Cree Language introduced in this module:
Various animals and characters from Cree folklore
Smudge ceremony
Get Creative
The Journey
On your STORY MAP, draw lines for the four characters leading first back to Misewa, and then through the forest to the ‘perilous ice bridge’, over the mountains, and down into a lush green valley. The wolf, Mahihkan, joins the story in the mountains and needs a circle in a fifth colour. Add details such as: the giant sequoia tree in the mountains, details of their camp (tent & fire)…
StoryMap PDF download
Module FOUR
Chapters 15-19 - In search of the Green Time
Comprehension
START HERE
Journal
Writing prompt:
How do you think these themes (greed, etc) relate to real life? How are Morgan and Eli’s interacting now compared to the beginning of the story?
NOW GO READ CHAPTERS 26, 27, and the EPILOGUE THEN COME BACK TO EXPLORE MODULE 6
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
More Cree Language introduced in this module:
Lil animated explainer about life in the bush, traplines, and constellations - Special Guest Narrator: David A Robertson (hopefully)
Cree astronomy info.
Downloadable graphics of Cree constellations or interactive connect the star dots.
Get Creative
The adventure continues
To your STORY MAP add the lake with the island, cabin, and canoe to your map. Add the man in a sixth colour circle starting at his cabin. Our four main character lines travel down to the cabin and then back up the mountain to the Sequoia tree. The man’s line should follow them there. At the tree, Ochek is shot with an arrow and is transformed into a constellation. How can you show this? Ochek’s line should stop here. Eli, Morgan, Arik, and the man continue to the ice bridge. The wolf arrives here too, but we’re not sure where he’s been. You can draw a dotted line to show where you think the wolf may have travelled, and then he and the man fall off the cliff at the ice bridge. Eli, Morgan, and Arik continue along towards the tree bridge, but stop sooner to chop down a tree and cross the river. From here, they head back to Misewa.
StoryMap PDF download
Module Five
Chapters 20-25 - Rescue!
Comprehension
Wrapping Up
Journal
Writing prompt:
The story ends with Morgan’s re-written poem. Write your own poem inspired by this story. If you like, you can use the online magnetic poetry and copy it into your journal, print out the words to cut-out and glue into your journal, or write your own.
Go Deeper
MORE TO EXPLORE
Magnetic poetry with learned Cree words. You can copy your creation into your journal!
If you liked this book, try these books (and obviously the next Misewa book)
Get Creative
The Home Stretch
Time to finish your STORY MAP! Continue Morgan and Eli’s lines back through the portal to their home where they started. Add any other details you like!
StoryMap PDF download