Description
Shkimma and Sam is a brief 21-page illustrated story about having a second chance as a youth finds the true meaning of the Seven Grandfather Teachings from an Elder named Sam. Ojibwe artist James Mishibinijima wrote and illustrated this story about an angry boy named Shkimma whose very name indicated that he was always getting angry. Sitting beside a peaceful bay the boy met the Elder as the older man was out for a walk. The Elder asked the boy why he was not attending school with his friends. Shkimma angrily answered that his friends were wasting their time at school learning about all the bad things that happened to everyone in history. Sam calmly told the angry boy about a special secret called chance. Sam explained that the youth should give his spirit a chance to learn and that knowledge helped a person on their travels along the good path of life. The Elder is able to reach the boy by explaining the meaning of the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Even if one fails we must always give our spirit the gift of a second chance. The simple line drawings aid the understanding of this teaching story.