Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior

Follow two Indigenous Rights Activists, Grandma Josephine and her Great-Niece Autumn Peltier, as they advocate for clean water.

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Cover of "Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior": an older woman, Aunt Josephine, wearing a red dress and a beaded necklace places her forehead to the head of a young girl, Autumn Peltier, wearing a red dress and a colorful collar, with braided hair and beaded earrings. A wave reaches over both of their heads.
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George, with a foreword by Autumn Peltier.

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About the Author, Illustrator, and Honored Guest

Author

Carole Lindstrom

Carole Lindstrom is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of literature for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning We are Water Protectors. She is Anishinaabe/Metis and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. She is honored to write books that allow her to shine a light on her beautiful people and their strength and resilience. Her tribal homelands are in Belcourt, North Dakota, but she was born and raised in Nebraska and currently makes her home in Maryland.

Carole has been a voracious reader and library geek ever since she was growing up in Nebraska. On weekends you could usually find her at the library lost in the book stacks or holed up in her bedroom with a good book. It wasn’t until she had her son, that she discovered her love of writing for children and began to work seriously on her writing.

-Author’s website

Carole Lindstrom Website

Illustrator

Bridget George

Bridget George is an Anishinaabe illustrator as well as author/illustrator who sits with the Bear Clan. She was raised on the shore of Lake Huron in the beautiful First Nations community of Kettle and Stony Point. She is passionate about creating space for authentic and diverse Indigenous representation, especially for children, and enjoys working on illustration projects built on a foundation of love and meaningful connection.

Bridget lives with her family in London, Ontario. She believes that one of the best parts of children’s illustration is that it provides connection with one’s inner child. Bridget finds inspiration in the journey of parenthood, learning her ancestral language, and stopping to take a look at the wonderful world around her.

-Bio sourced from Full Circle Literary

Bridget George Website

Honored guest

Esie Leoso Corbine

Boozhoo! (Greetings)

Esie Leoso Corbine, is a Bad River Tribal Member who has worked as an Administrator for Tribal and County organizations for 35+ years in the area of Social Services. She is a second generation college graduate and currently is a small business owner as well as a trainer, speaker, and contractor that develops organizational redesigns to reflect tribal culture. Her expertise area is in child welfare and has implemented various models and tools: Child Services; Signs of Safety, Family Group Conferencing, Wrap Around, and Tribal Strength based approach 7 Anishinabe Values.

Esie brings her culture knowledge to the table sharing with her audience that will increase their communication skills and client relationship in Indian Country.

-Bio provided by Esie Leoso Corbine.

Discussion Questions

  1. Autumn Peltier had to summon her courage to confront the people in power. Has there ever been a time you had to be brave to do the right thing?
  2. Think through your day, how often do you use water? What would happen if the water was dirty, and you weren’t able to use it?
  3. Working together to advocate for the water empowered them. Why do you think having a community is so powerful?

Learning Activities

  1. Research the availability of clean water in your area. What did you find out? Did anything surprise you?
  2. Can you brainstorm ways you may dirty the water you use? Is there anything you can do to prevent that or advocate for clean water?
  3. With a trusted adult, research how much water is needed to grow the food you eat or produce the clothes you wear. Think about and discuss what would happen if that water was dirty and unusable.

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