by Carole Lindstrom, author; and Michaela Goade, illustrator
review by Becky Showalter
We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, is a children’s book inspired by the Indigenous-led environmental protests that have been held across the United States for many years. In particular, it tells the story of a little girl taking part in the Standing Rock protests, which our own Bishop Curry took part in in 2016 and 2017.
With stunning colors and artwork, this book received the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations in 2021 — the first time an Indigenous illustrator has done so. We Are Water Protectors is a reminder that each one of us can be the hero in protecting the earth and the water that is so critical to our lives. It shines a light on environmental protests and also the ancient (and current!) role that Indigenous cultures have played in protecting the environment. For Earth Day, this may be the perfect book to initiate discussions with what it means to be an activist for our world! Keep reading for discussion topics and some craft ideas!
Possible Discussion Topics
What happened at Standing Rock (from kellysclassroomonline.com)
Environmental protests similar to the one led by the Standing Rock Sioux in North Dakota are the inspiration for We Are Water Protectors. In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a plan to build an oil pipeline (Dakota Access Pipeline… also known as DAPL) from North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa, to Illinois. They claimed that building the pipeline would pose no threat to the environment, to communities, or to historical/cultural landmarks.
What the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to mention is that the pipeline would run directly under Lake Oahe… the primary source of water for the people living on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. They also failed to mention that the construction of the pipeline would damage culturally sacred sites on the reservation… a significant violation of the existing treaties between the people of Standing Rock and the United States government.
Later that year, the citizens of Standing Rock and their supporters gathered in protest of the broken treaties and the potential risk to their drinking water and sacred sites. This protest lasted from April 2016 to February 2017.
The Dakota Access Pipeline was completed in April 2017 and became fully operational two months later. There were at least five documented oil leaks in the pipeline in 2017 alone. More leaks and spills have occurred since then. Use the map again to find North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Lake Oahe, and the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
What Can We Do?
Talk about the balance between still needing fossil fuels right now and taking care of the environment. Discuss ways that the world is trying to move away from needing fossil fuels. How can our family need less fossil fuels? Have your Kids do this Carbon Footprint Calculator and find out how THEY can make a difference! How can you advocate (talk about what advocate means) for clean energy? Maybe write a letter to your congressman or Senator and ask them to help take care of the earth.
What Happens When Things Don’t Go “Right”?
Even though the Dakota Pipeline was built, do you think the little girl has stopped trying to protect the earth and her tribe? Do we have a responsibility to each other to keep trying to do the right thing? Can you think of examples in your own life?