Being a Settler
by Valerie Trew

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Being a Settler is a bold and lyrical teaching tool that speaks directly to what it means to be a non-Indigenous person living on stolen Land. Valerie Trew’s rhyming narrative poem traces the history of colonization on Turtle Island, confronting difficult truths while presenting messages of responsibility and hope. Accompanied by illustrations rich in symbolism from Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Wennekerakon Tiewishaw, Being a Settler is both visually and emotionally powerful. Readers are invited to learn the history of the Land they live on, speak out against injustice, and act as respectful guests. The poem concludes by alluding to the teachings of love, respect, honesty, humility, wisdom, bravery, and truth—guiding readers on a path toward reconciliation and embracing Indigenous Wisdom. Additional resources make this book especially valuable for parents and educators. A Guide to the Words and Illustrations provides historical context for age-appropriate discussion, and the artist’s perspective on the imagery and symbolism within the illustrations.

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About the Author: Valerie Trew (she/ her) is a settler on Turtle Island. She is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with a Master of Arts in Leadership and currently pursuing a PhD in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto, investigating early learning settings as sites of resistance to oppression. Valerie has worked in children’s services through child welfare, inclusion, regional government, postsecondary education, and early learning and child care for over 20 years. Valerie is an educator-activist at heart, and views teaching - from early learning to post-secondary - as a political act. Through leadership, teaching, and research, Valerie hopes to contribute to radical social transformation towards a post-colonial, post-capitalist world. She recognizes the ways justice, liberation, human and planetary health, and multi-species flourishing are all connected, and is passionate about total liberation for all humans and animals. In her personal life, Valerie lives with her partner and two senior dogs. She has three adult children and one grandchild, all of whom motivate her to fight for a just and livable world. About the Artist: Wennekerakon Tiewishaw (she/ her) is a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) digital artist from Kanehsatake, Quebec. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with distinction in Child Studies from Concordia University and began her career in early childhood education, where she discovered a passion for fostering learning through art. As the co-founder of Revital Software, an Indigenous game studio dedicated to creating language learning games for endangered Indigenous languages, she combines her background in education and digital art to make language revitalization engaging and accessible. Wennekerakon has collaborated with Indigenous community centres, schools, and educational departments to develop educational materials and games that help children reconnect with their languages and cultural knowledge in fun, interactive ways. Her art is deeply influenced by the connection she shares with her sisters, her niece, and her mother. Their laughter, strength, and unwavering support continue to shape her creative path and the way she moves through life.

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Contributors

Author

Valerie Trew

Illustrator

Wennekerakon Tiewishaw