Jenny Kay Dupuis shares Heart Berry Bling, a story incorporating the tradition of Anishinaabe beadwork, strawberry teachings, and gender discrimination in the Indian Act into an intimate conversation between grandparent and child. BOOK DESCRIPTION: Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis; illustrated by Eva Campbell.   On a visit to her granny, Maggie is excited to begin her first-ever beading project: a pair of strawberry earrings. However, beading is much harder than she expected! As they work side by side, Granny shares how beading helped her persevere and stay connected to her Anishinaabe culture when she lost her Indian status, forcing her out of her home community--all because she married someone without status, something the men of her community could do freely.   As she learns about patience and perseverance from her granny's teachings, Maggie discovers that beading is a journey, and like every journey, it's easier with a loved one at her side.   In this beautifully illustrated book, children learn about the tradition of Anishinaabe beadwork, strawberry teachings, and gender discrimination in the Indian Act. NOTABLE QUOTES:   (5:48) “To me it's been such an important art form for me to be able to find strength within myself and also to find joy.”   (6:42) “[Powwow bling has] become this cultural expression that we have in communities, but it's mixed often with, you might see the glass beads, but it's mixed with crystals and rhinestones and maybe some pieces of metal or metal work, and it just shines. It shines so, so brilliantly. It's quite beautiful and it's very, very attractive. And especially when you see it on the dancers when they're competing, it's a beautiful sight.”    (7:32) “The story really was written to educate everybody about, sort of, a period of history that really hasn't been talked about amongst young people. And it was created for those young people who are struggling when it comes to finding their culture and their identity, and also their community, which they may feel that they're not really part of, for various reasons, could have been torn from them for various reasons as well, too”.  (8:52) “I really wanted to bring this story to life, to speak for people to see the importance of what happens when a culture and a community when there's loss. I thought it was so, so important. But also what happens, too, when a family sits and works together to reclaim that history or to bring back those history and those cultures and how much joy that can bring.” (10:32) “[The Indian Act] impacted a lot of First Nations women and a lot of children as well, too. So, you know, for many generations when you look at it, if you were a First Nations woman and you married somebody who was not First Nations, you lost your rights, you lost your status, and you often had to leave your community as well, too.” (13:26) “This particular what we call gender discrimination in the Indian Act, or this law, had a lot of impact on women and children in our communities. And it still does even today, over time.” (15:26) “I think we can really draw on those teachings to think about how we can look towards caring for ourselves and also others when we're struggling, whatever that is.”  (20:37) “There's a lot that really goes into when you're creating a book. It's not just writing the words of a story, but it's how do you illustrate it to make it really come to life. And this was so, so important as a tribute to, to my family and, and to our histories as well, too.” (21:44) “Take time to find joy in everyday life and take time to find strength as well too.”    ADDITIONAL LINKS: Jenny Kay Dupuis website - jennykaydupuis.com Purchase the Book - Heart Berry Bling TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE: Have you ever met your grandparents? If so, are there any special just-with-grandma or grandpa things you like to do? How does being with your grandparent mak