The Sharing Circle: Stories about First Nations Culture

by Theresa Meuse, Arthur Stevens (Illustrator)

Matthew loves to play games with his friends and share his toys with them. But most of all he loves to share the special treasures that remind him of his First Nations culture. Perhaps his favourite treasure is the medicine pouch that his grandfather made especially for him. This is where he keeps many of his other treasures.

Sharing Circle includes seven children's stories about First Nations culture and spirituality practices. All seven stories, The Eagle Feather, The Dream Catcher, The Sacred Herbs, The Talking Circle, The Medicine Wheel, The Drum, and The Medicine Pouch explore First Nations cultural practices and teach children about Mi'kmaq beliefs and heritage. Researched and written by Mi'kmaw children's author Theresa Meuse and beautifully illustrated by Mi'kmaw illustrator Arthur Stevens, this book will engage and inform children of all ages.

Genres: Indigenous, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Teaching, Canada

52 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2003

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seven story collection highlighting the sacredness of Indigenous spirituality. I’m Anishnaabe and practice all of these ceremonies or teachings with my students and with my son. Nicely illustrated and well written.

[Virginia]

No star rating, because as a resource, and introduction to some First Nations' culture, this is amazing. As stories, these need work.

[Travel By Bookmarks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s my review of The Sharing Circle: Stories about First Nations Culture by Theresa Meuse-Dallien published by @nimbuspub:

This children’s book follows the story of an Indigenous boy named Matthew as he learns about seven special aspects of First Nations culture: The Eagle Feather, The Dream Catcher, The Sacred Herbs, The Talking Circle, The Medicine Wheel, The Drum, and The Medicine Pouch. Readers learn alongside Matthew about each of these traditions in a light-hearted and captivating way.

This picture book explained important concepts from Indigenous culture through short creative stories of Matthew’s various experiences within the book. It took situations that most children would experience (such as going to the doctor’s office, attending a birthday party, etc) and cleverly weaved in aspects of Indigenous culture to create a wonderful way for younger readers to learn without an information overload. This book did a great job of showcasing Indigenous People’s inclusivity and how willing they are to share knowledge, herbs, and gifts with others, even if they are not Indigenous.

I noticed that the protagonist was the same from author Theresa Meuse’s other book titled Sweetgrass, and I found that to be so sweet and clever. As a child, I loved books that were a part of a series, and I’m sure some younger readers today also look forward to learning about what Matthew does next. It made me wonder whether or not that’s the case with all of Theresa Meuse’s other children’s books. I also loved the bright illustrations in the book. The pages are all so vibrant and beautiful. The book’s playful yet educational tone is perfectly complemented by the accompanying art.

This book depicted sacred Indigenous practices in ways that children will be able to understand. Anyone can learn from and enjoy this culturally rich read. I recommend this book to those looking for an engaging, light-hearted, yet informative read.

I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!

(Please kindly note that I made the Indigenous medicinal pouch in this post’s image under the guidance and instruction of an Indigenous teacher years ago and intend no disrespect at all)

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sharing Circle is a great, easy-to-read book that introduces First Nations culture. Although it's written for kids, I think everyone should read it, no matter how old. The stories are simple and straight to the point, making them a perfect way to familiarize yourself with these traditions.

The book does a great job of explaining different cultural practices and why they matter. One thing that stuck with me was learning about medicine pouches. If someone opens a pouch that doesn’t belong to them, the owner has to replace everything inside. That made me realize how special and personal those items are, and I can imagine how upsetting it would be to have that happen.

I recommend The Sharing Circle to anyone who wants to learn more about First Nations culture. It’s a quick and easy read, and learning about things you might not know is always good.

[Sue Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for children, this book introduces many of the symbols of First Nations culture.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple format to read to my grandchildren.