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Here’s a few more illustrations from “Gidjie and the Wolves” (The Intermediaries, book 1).

‪‘Gidjie’ is short for gijigijigaaneshiinh, ‘chickadee’ in Anishinaabemowin. Here she is, working some dough. What kind of dough, you ask? If you guessed that it-she-is a living doughball named Bluebelle, who comes from a piece of frybread dough made in the 1800’s, but is now responsible for inducing dreams in those who wander from their path…you’d be correct.

“Makwa enters the medicine kitchen.”

The book is being released at the end of the month–woohoo! Preorders are still open https://tashiahart.com/bookstore/gidjie-and-the-wolves/

Well, the cat’s out of the bag. In my interview with Lisa Johnson, host of KUMD’s MN Reads this morning, I couldn’t help but tell her about a new development: Jonathan Thunder (aka my hubby) will inking my drawings for “Gidjie and the Wolves”!

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Here’s a link to the MN Reads interview from this morning:

https://www.kumd.org/tohttps://www.kumd.org/post/mn-reads-gidjie-and-wolves-tashia-hartpic/mn-reads

And be sure to follow Jonathan’s work:

http://www.thunderfineart.com

Dear Friends,

I’ve gotten requests to see some of the illustrations that I’m working on for “Gidjie and the Wolves” (The Intermediaries, book 1), and thought I would take a moment to share the prologue for the book along with a quick pencil sketch version of the illustration that accompanies the prologue (see below). The final image will be digital, as I’m working in Procreate to create the illustrations after doing all of the pencil sketches.

Also! Tune into 103.3 KUMD MN Reads tomorrow at 8:10 am to hear myself and host of MN Reads, Lisa Johnson, talk about the creation, inspiration and execution of “Gidjie and the Wolves.” 

Prologue to “Gidjie and the Wolves”

When humans first began to walk the Earth, the other two-leggeds of the era pondered at the lack of animal features these new beings displayed. 

Sharing both animal and human characteristics, these older bipeds became known as the Intermediaries, and took up the role of watching over humans and animals alike. 

Over time, a communication gap widened between the humans and the animals. Hostilities developed as the humans believed the Intermediaries favored the animals. As a result, brief warfare occurred between the humans and the Intermediaries—many who were more powerful in physical form than the humans.

The Intermediaries soon became regretful of the fighting and decided to conceal their dual nature from the humans until the time once again comes when all of the beings are able to understand one another.

The customs and cultures of the Intermediaries have continued to develop to foster the communication between animals and humans, and they continue to position themselves to be of service to both accordingly.

This story is about a human girl adopted into a family of Intermediaries, seeking to understand where she fits in and what her role will be.

I thought today might be a good time to share that Winnow is returning in book 2 (title forthcoming) of the Broken Wings and Things series, with book 1 being “Girl Unreserved.”

I’ll be revamping and re-releasing “Girl Unreserved” with a new cover and extra content this summer prior to the release of book 2 next year.

“Girl Unreserved” is loosely based on my own coming of age story. Book 2 in the series is more of a fictionalized tale…

“An Anishinaabe woman travels to a remote island in Northern Minnesota with her newly wedded husband on their first anniversary. Serene exteriors aren’t as they seem. The land mirrors their secrets and invites them in to play, in order to set things in balance.”

Serves 3-4

2 cups cooked manoomin 
1 lb ground bison
1 red pepper
1 half head broccoli 
1/2 small onion diced
1 cup sliced mushrooms 
4 eggs (optional)

Cook bison + onion w/a little oil until bison is halfway done in a large frying pan.
Add veggies + mushrooms, cover pan and let cook 4-5 minutes, stirring every couple minutes.
Stir in eggs (optional) and seasonings of choice.
When veggies start to soften, add rice, stir, turn down heat and cover for 2 minutes.
Put on bib.
Chow down on the couch so you can fall asleep just happy and full afterwards.

I was recently asked by Andi Murphy, creator of Toasted Sister Podcast (https://toastedsisterpodcast.com)–a podcast with the tag-line–‘Radio about Native American food’–if I wanted to contribute a to her new endeavor, a first of its kind zine about Food in Indigenous Futurisms.

HECK YES I told her!

I asked for help calling in a story from the ether that would be meaningful and the response was… write about ‘dump bears.’

Now, I’m not the kind of person who disobeys these responses when they come, so I did as I was told. The short story, “Rez Dog Power!” was the result.

You can order the zine here : https://toastedsisterpodcast.com/support/

This is my first digital cartoon!

I made it after an invasion in the kitchen by SYSCO at the 2019 Oneida Food Sovereignty Summit, followed by a swift kicking of SYSCO’s ass by the local Oneida community. 

It’s a little goofy-looking and basic, but it’s relevant to the struggle happening with the Indigenous Foods Movement so I decided to share it. I had fun making it and look forward to making more : )

‘Native American veterans reflect on their experiences in the military during the Vietnam War. Even as they struggled with their relationship to the United States government from past oppression; the Dakota, Lakota, and Ojibwe warriors still felt compelled to honor their duty to their people as Akichita | Ogichidaag| Warriors, as protectors of the people.’ -via PBS

Follow the link below to watch the Special | 56m 23s on pbs.org

https://www.pbs.org/video/the-peoples-protectors-6k3ymf/?fbclid=IwAR0lN6Z-U5xl9XVXBb9eI9jU-cv3n8yKh9Pk2ij2gPZekQgNJvhxaIrvtLY