Additional information
by Trina Rathgeber (Author), Alina Pete (Illustrator), Jillian Dolan (Colorist)
★"Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. An excellent choice for a book report and good addition to a children's nonfiction collection." -- School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review
It takes courage and bravery to survive in the barrens.
In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada. This is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many challenges, including freezing temperatures, wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. With no food or supplies, she relies on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family. Ilse uses her connection to the land and animals, wilderness skills and resilience to find her way home.
This powerful tale of survival is written by Ilse Schweder's granddaughter.
Back Jacket
iskw?w pith?siw nitisithihk?son. My name is Lady of the Thunderbird, and this is my story. In 1944 thirteen-year-old Ilse gets lost in a fierce snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada. Separated from her sled dogs, and without food or supplies, Ilse finds herself alone in the unforgiving barrens. She survives freezing temperatures, encounters with wild animals, snow blindness and frostbite. She must rely on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge passed down from her family, and her connection to the land and animals, if she hopes to find her way home. This true story of survival is written by Ilse's granddaughter.
Author Biography
Trina Rathgeber is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and grew up in the northern community of Thompson, Manitoba, where she did all the things that northern kids do, from playing hockey and fishing to building forts in the woods. She enjoys writing for children and is the author of French Fries Are Potatoes: A Food Poem and Little Cookbook and The Bunnies Talk Money. Trina lives in Calgary with her family.
Alina Pete (they/them) is a nehiyaw artist and writer from Little Pine First Nation in Saskatchewan. They grew up urban but spent summers wandering in the Qu'Appelle Valley with their cousin from Cowessess First Nation. Alina is best known for their Aurora Award-winning comics, but they also write short stories and poems, and their work has been featured in several Indigenous comic anthologies. Alina lives on unceeded Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen land with their partner.
