‘Lillian and Kokomis: The Spirit of Dance’ inspires to rekindle your inner shkode
Reviewed by Alex Hebert
This book is about a girl named Lillian who is in foster care system. She is moved from place to place until she gets placed with an Indigenous woman named Mrs. Flagstone.
It takes a while for Lillian to get used to being with Mrs. Flagstone because she had bad experiences at the other foster homes. She never felt like she belonged anywhere. Lillian even gets bullied at school for being different.
Lillian starts to call Mrs. Flagstone ‘Auntie’ and things get really interesting when Auntie takes Lillian to meet her mother, Kokomis. Kokomis teaches Lillian how to make Indian cookies, takes her to a pow wow and introduces her to dancing and even makes Lillian her own regalia.
I liked how she continued to feel that there would be betrayal from either Auntie or Kokomis and didn’t trust that what she was doing and learning wouldn’t just disappear.
I especially liked Kokomis. Anishinaabemowin was simple and learnable. People can easily start using these words in everyday life. I recognized some of the words from my Ojibway class at school.
What happens with her sister? Is she okay? The spirits said she was in a good place.
The ending was good because they were teaching about history and culture at the school.
It was cool for her to learn her identity and her clan. It would have been good for her to receive her name in a ceremony. I liked that Kokomis taught her about the medicines and to rekindle her inner fire. Elder Josh Eshkakogan told us at a Treaty Education session about the importance of your inner fire called shkode.
I would like there to be a check up from Mrs. Beasley the social worker to tell them that she is doing well and to show how she likes being there. I know some friends who are foster kids and I would like to know that they are safe.
I don’t understand why kids have to be taken away from their home. Why can’t the adults be taken away? Leave the kids to have their same room with their own things.
I know this is a kid’s book, but some adults can learn from this book, too.
Mom’s perspective on ‘Lillian and Kokomis’
My son asked many important questions while reading this book. Alex has friends who are in the foster care system and we spoke about the importance of feeling the sense of belonging. It wasn’t until Lillian is placed in a home where culture was practiced that she understood where she belonged and rekindled with her inner fire – shkode – and found her identity.
It is established in the book that perhaps culture wasn’t practiced in Lillian’s family. This prompted a conversation with Alex about inter-generational trauma from Indian Residential Schools. We also talked about helping the family so that Lillian could go back home. I explained to Alex that the Anishinabek Nation is helping First Nations with the Family Well-Being program. With Koganaawsawin – the system that will implement the Child Well-Being Law – the focus will be on healing the family.
We talked about living in a world with one foot in a running shoe and the other in a moccasin. We both agreed that Kokomis’ teaching of ozhaawashko-makwa (Blue Bear) about whatever space you occupy, that is where you belong.
I felt that even though the suggested reading level is 9-12, the content might be for a more mature child.
Lillian & Kokomis The Spirit of Dance by Lynda Partridge, illustrated by Dave Nicholson Durville &Uproute Books; Ages 9-12; trade paperback $17.95 ISBN 978-1-98882427-7.
Alex Hebert is a 13 year-old citizen of Dokis First Nation and attends White Woods Public School in Sturgeon Falls. At age seven, he was the designer of the world’s first Treaty of Niagara LEGO wampum belt. His story is featured in the book “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt”, which is available through the Anishinabek Nation head office.